Intro
Joint statement stresses merit-based selection amid Pakistani player concerns
London
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and all eight franchises of The Hundred have jointly asserted that players must not be excluded on the grounds of nationality, amid concerns that Pakistani cricketers could be overlooked at next month’s auction.
The statement comes in the wake of British media reports suggesting that four Indian-owned teams — Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance), Southern Brave (GMR) and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun Group) — may avoid signing Pakistani players due to geopolitical sensitivities.
“The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone — regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or otherwise — feels they belong in our sport. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality,” the joint statement said.
The ECB reiterated that, as the governing body responsible for running the tournament, it is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination and has regulations in place to take robust action against any such conduct. All eight teams, including those with links to the Indian Premier League (IPL), committed to selecting players based solely on cricketing performance, availability and team requirements.
Although Indian ownership has drawn attention, participation of Pakistani players in The Hundred has historically been limited. Only two featured last season, and just nine have played across the first five editions.
A total of 67 Pakistani cricketers, including nearly the entire men’s T20 World Cup squad, have registered for the upcoming auction. Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan recently expressed his desire to compete in the tournament.
Pakistani players have not featured in the IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and similar patterns have been observed in leagues such as SA20 and ILT20, where franchises with IPL-linked ownership have refrained from signing them.
England captain Harry Brook earlier termed it a “shame” if Pakistan players were excluded, while spinner Moeen Ali warned that any deliberate exclusion could invite legal scrutiny.