ECB Warns Hundred Over Pakistani Players

- The controversy is linked to four of The Hundred's eight franchises now being at least partially owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) entities: Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds. - This situation mirrors a trend in other T20 leagues like South Africa's SA20 and the UAE's ILT20, where IPL-owned teams have consistently not signed Pakistani players. Due to political tensions, Pakistani cricketers have not played in the IPL since its inaugural 2008 season. - Ahead of the upcoming draft, more than 60 Pakistani cricketers, including stars like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan, have registered, highlighting the large pool of talent potentially affected. - The concern follows the 2025 Hundred draft, where all 45 male Pakistani players who entered went unselected, an event that occurred before the new IPL-linked investments were finalized. - In response to fears of a "shadow ban," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) plans to formally contact the ECB, asking it to ensure Pakistani players are not treated unfairly and judged only on merit. - Prominent figures like former England captain Michael Vaughan have urged the ECB to intervene quickly, emphasizing that such exclusions should not be permitted within a league under its control. - While the ECB cannot force teams to select specific players, it has warned that any evidence of discrimination based on nationality could be referred to the independent Cricket Regulator for investigation and potential sanctions. - Top Pakistani players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are notable absentees from the draft list, but this is reportedly due to their expected participation in a Test series against the West Indies that clashes with the tournament window.