ECB Addresses Pakistan Player Concerns
The England and Wales Cricket Board released an official statement on February 25 regarding Pakistan players' participation in The Hundred after reports of a possible boycott. The ECB affirmed its commitment to inclusivity and emphasized that discriminatory practices will not be tolerated in the competition.
- The controversy arose from reports that four franchises with Indian Premier League (IPL) ownership — Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds — intended to not select any Pakistani players. - In response to the reports, prominent cricket figures spoke out, with former England all-rounder Moeen Ali stating that players would take action if they believed Pakistani players were being boycotted. - A total of 67 Pakistani players, 63 men and four women, have registered for the upcoming Hundred auction. This includes high-profile names like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, who have set their reserve prices at the highest tier of £100,000. - This situation follows the 2025 draft for The Hundred, where all 45 male and 5 female Pakistani players who registered went unselected. - Pakistani players have been unofficially barred from the IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and their participation in other leagues with IPL-owned teams, such as South Africa's SA20, has also been non-existent. - Only nine Pakistani players in total have participated in the first four seasons of The Hundred, with just two being picked as replacement players in the most recent edition. - The Hundred is introducing an IPL-style open auction for the first time, moving away from the draft system used in previous seasons.
