Pakistani cricketers are reportedly unlikely to be selected by four Indian-owned or partially owned franchises for next month’s auction of The Hundred, sources told BBC Sport.
Players from Pakistan have not played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 due to ongoing diplomatic tensions affecting recruitment in IPL-linked T20 franchises.
Four of The Hundred’s eight teams, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds are partially owned by groups that also control IPL franchises.
Messages seen by BBC indicate a senior England and Wales Cricket Board official informed an agent that interest in Pakistan players would likely be restricted to non-IPL affiliated franchises only.
Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim played last year, with Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf appearing in earlier seasons, but no Pakistan players have ever featured in the women’s competition.
Pakistan’s men are currently ranked sixth and the women’s team eighth in ICC T20 rankings, demonstrating their international quality despite limited opportunities in IPL influenced T20 leagues worldwide.
The men’s side will tour the West Indies during The Hundred, but white-ball specialists could still be available for franchises interested in securing Pakistan players for the upcoming auction.
The PCB has withdrawn no objection certificates at times, but seven top players recently appeared in Australia’s Big Bash League, showing the board can exercise flexibility over overseas participation.
No Pakistan players have featured in South Africa’s SA20 league since 2023, where all six franchises are IPL owned, while UAE ILT20 sides linked to IPL owners have also avoided recruiting Pakistan players entirely.
In contrast, Desert Vipers, an American owned ILT20 team, signed eight Pakistan players, demonstrating that franchise ownership and investor nationality influence opportunities for Pakistani cricketers.
The ECB maintains control of The Hundred after selling 49 percent stakes, with governance handled by a strategic board and independent regulator enforcing anti-discrimination policies across all franchises.
Prominent agents and player unions say Pakistan players deserve fair selection, urging The Hundred to avoid nationality based exclusion and ensure talent is valued over politics or franchise ownership.
