The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has warned franchises in The Hundred that any discrimination, including decisions based on nationality, could result in action ahead of the player auction.
According to media reports, the governing body sent an email on Sunday to all eight teams, reminding them of their obligations and stressing that discriminatory practices will not be tolerated.
The reminder follows claims that some franchises with ownership links to the Indian Premier League (IPL) may decide against considering Pakistan players during the March 11–12 auction.
Those named in the report include Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds, who are alleged to be weighing their options regarding Pakistan national players.
It is understood that if credible evidence of discrimination emerges, the matter could be referred to the independent Cricket Regulator, while the ECB may also take separate strict action.
The situation has again drawn attention to longstanding geopolitical tensions that have affected cricketing ties between neighboring countries India and Pakistan for more than a decade.
Pakistan players have not participated in the IPL since 2009, and their involvement in other tournaments has narrowed as IPL owners expanded into competitions such as SA20 and ILT20.
For the upcoming edition of The Hundred, 67 Pakistan players, including 63 men and four women, have entered the auction pool alongside other international cricketers.
The list features prominent names such as fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, while all-rounder Shadab Khan is also among the registered players.
A total of 964 players have signed up for the draft, with all eight franchises required to submit a preferred list of 75 to 100 names before the ECB reduces the pool to around 200.
