ECB Warns Against Pakistani Discrimination
The England and Wales Cricket Board has written to all eight franchises in The Hundred, warning them against discriminating against Pakistani players amid concerns they are being excluded from the upcoming auction. The ECB's intervention follows reports that political tensions, particularly involving Indian Premier League-linked team owners, are influencing player selection decisions.
- Four of the eight men's teams in The Hundred have partial or full ownership links to Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, including Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Southern Brave, and Oval Invincibles. This has raised concerns due to the long-standing exclusion of Pakistani players from the IPL since 2009 amid political tensions between India and Pakistan. - A significant number of Pakistani cricketers, 67 in total (63 men and four women), have entered their names for the upcoming draft for The Hundred. This includes prominent players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf. - The warning from the ECB comes after no Pakistani players were selected in the 2025 draft of The Hundred, where 45 players had registered. This outcome has heightened fears that a similar situation could unfold with the new IPL-linked ownership in place. - This pattern of exclusion extends to other T20 leagues where IPL franchises have ownership stakes. For instance, no Pakistani player has participated in South Africa's SA20 league, where all six teams are owned by IPL groups. - Player availability has previously been a factor in team selections. Scheduling conflicts with Pakistan's international tours have sometimes limited the participation of top players in The Hundred. This year, a Test series in the West Indies could again impact the availability of some key players. - In response to the concerns, former England captain Michael Vaughan has publicly called on the ECB to take firm action, stating the board owns the league and should not permit such exclusions to maintain the sport's inclusivity. - While two Pakistani players, Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, featured in the 2025 season as replacement players, no Pakistani woman has ever played in The Hundred. - The ECB has stated it would expect teams to select players from all over the world and that if any proof of discrimination based on nationality emerges, the matter could be referred to the independent Cricket Regulator for action.
