The Hundred: IPL-linked teams ‘not considering Pakistan players’

Pakistan cricketers are not being considered by Indian-owned sides for next month’s Hundred auction, sources have told BBC Sport.

Players from Pakistan have not featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 because of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Four of The Hundred’s eight franchises – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – are now at least part-owned by companies that control IPL teams.

In messages seen by the BBC, a senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) indicated to an agent that interest in his Pakistan players would be limited to sides not linked to the IPL.

Another agent described the situation as «an unwritten rule» across T20 leagues with Indian investment.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould said last year he expected «players from all nations to be selected for all teams» in The Hundred and warned «clear anti-discrimination policies» were in place.

None of the four teams or ownership groups in question responded to requests for comment.

An ECB spokesperson said: «The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that.

«Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered for The Hundred auction, with representation on the longlist of over 50 players respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.»

Two Pakistan internationals – Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim – appeared in last year’s tournament, which was the final edition before new investors took control.

Others – including Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf – featured in earlier seasons of the men’s competition. No Pakistan players have appeared in the women’s Hundred.

Pakistan’s men are ranked sixth in the ICC T20 world rankings, with the women’s team eighth.

The men’s side are scheduled to play a Test series in the West Indies during this year’s Hundred, though white-ball specialists would still be available.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has previously withdrawn no-objection certificates (NOCs) – required for players to take part in overseas tournaments – at short notice.

However, sources point to the participation of seven leading players in Australia’s recent Big Bash League as evidence the PCB has shown flexibility over player availability.

No Pakistan players have featured in South Africa’s SA20, which launched in 2023. All six of its teams are owned by IPL franchise groups – including the four now involved in The Hundred.

In the UAE’s ILT20, franchises controlled by the owners of MI London and Southern Brave have not signed a Pakistan player across four seasons, but have recruited cricketers from 15 other nationalities.

By contrast, American-owned ILT20 side Desert Vipers have signed eight Pakistan players over the same period.

In January this year, IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman after being instructed to do so by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

No official reason was given but it came amid strained political tensions between India and neighbouring Bangladesh.

«Every player should have the right to fair and equal opportunity,» said Tom Moffat, chief executive of the World Cricketers’ Association – the global players’ union.

«While employers have autonomy in recruitment, those decisions should always align with principles of fairness, equality and respect.»

The ECB sold its 49% stakes in each of the eight Hundred franchises last year – raising £500m in private investment that has since been distributed to counties and the grassroots game.

Host counties were able to keep or sell part of their remaining 51%.

The ECB retains control of the competition itself, with a new board featuring team representatives formed to help shape its strategic direction.

The tournament also remains under the jurisdiction of the independent cricket regulator – established following the 2023 Equity in Cricket report, which found discrimination to be «widespread» within the English game.

The County Cricket Members’ Group said: «We expect the relevant county boards and the ECB to hold private partners accountable if there is any reason to believe the non-selection of Pakistan players was a blanket decision based on nationality.»

According to census data, 12% of the Greater Manchester population and 4% in Leeds identify as Pakistani.

In 2018, the ECB unveiled its South Asian Action Plan, led by Vikram Banerjee – now managing director of The Hundred – aimed at increasing engagement within South Asian communities across 10 «core cities».

Fans in three of those cities – Manchester, Leeds and London – look set to have no Pakistan representation in their local teams.

«Our players do not seek favours, they seek a fair field,» said one prominent agent.

«I hope The Hundred does not mirror patterns we are seeing in some other franchise ecosystems. I hope I am proven wrong.»