Pakistan cricketers may struggle to find teams in next month’s Hundred draft. Reports suggest that franchises with links to the Indian Premier League are not considering Pakistan players.
IPL Linked Teams Under Spotlight
Four of the eight Hundred teams have partial ownership tied to IPL franchises. These include Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds.
Sources say an official from the England and Wales Cricket Board told an agent that Pakistan players were more likely to be picked by teams without IPL connections.
One agent described the situation as an unwritten understanding in leagues backed by Indian investors.
ECB Promises Equal Opportunity
ECB chief executive Richard Gould has previously said that players from every nation should have a fair chance in The Hundred. The board maintains that anti discrimination policies are in place.
Pakistan’s Presence Has Shrunk
No Pakistan player has appeared in the women’s Hundred so far.
Pakistan’s men are currently ranked sixth in T20 cricket, while the women’s team sit eighth. Although the men’s side will tour the West Indies for a Test series during The Hundred window, white ball specialists would still be free to play.
A Wider Pattern in Franchise Cricket
In the UAE’s ILT20, teams linked to MI London and Southern Brave have not signed Pakistan players either. However, the Desert Vipers, owned by American investors, have picked several Pakistan cricketers.
Earlier this year, Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman after instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. No official explanation followed, but the move came during political tensions in the region.
Calls for Fair Treatment
Tom Moffat, chief executive of the World Cricketers’ Association, said every player deserves equal opportunity. While teams have the right to choose their squads, he believes those decisions should respect fairness.
The ECB recently sold 49 percent stakes in all eight Hundred teams, raising £500 million in private investment. The board still runs the competition and works with an independent regulator formed after the 2023 Equity in Cricket report found discrimination within English cricket.
For many involved, the message is simple. Pakistan players are not asking for special treatment. They just want the same chance as everyone else.
