The upcoming The Hundred domestic tournament in England is set to hold its player draft on 11 and 12 March, with 63 Pakistani male and 4 female cricketers registered for consideration. However, reports from the BBC indicate that four Indian-owned franchises are unlikely to sign any Pakistani players, a development England’s limited-overs captain Harry Brook has described as “regrettable.”
The 26-year-old Yorkshire batsman has already signed with the Indian-owned Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) for a salary of £465,000, making him the highest-paid player in this year’s tournament. While Brook captained the Superchargers over the past two seasons, he has confirmed he will not assume captaincy this year.
Speaking ahead of England’s Super Eight match against Sri Lanka, Brook said, “My primary focus right now is the T20 World Cup. The Hundred is beyond my control; the franchises will make the decisions they feel are right.” On the issue of Pakistani players’ exclusion, he added, “Pakistan has long been a strong cricketing nation, and they have some of the best players in the world. Not seeing any of them in The Hundred would be disappointing.”
An ECB senior official reportedly indicated to player agents that franchises not affiliated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) may be more open to signing Pakistani cricketers. Of the eight teams in The Hundred, four—Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds—are partially owned by companies connected to IPL franchises. The remaining four—Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire—do not have IPL-affiliated ownership, potentially offering opportunities for Pakistani players.
| Team | Ownership | Likely to sign Pakistani players? |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester Super Giants | IPL-affiliated | Unlikely |
| MI London | IPL-affiliated | Unlikely |
| Southern Brave | IPL-affiliated | Unlikely |
| Sunrisers Leeds | IPL-affiliated | Unlikely |
| Birmingham Phoenix | Independent | Possible |
| London Spirit | Independent | Possible |
| Trent Rockets | Independent | Possible |
| Welsh Fire | Independent | Possible |
Following news of potential exclusion, former England captain Michael Vaughan urged the ECB to take swift action to ensure inclusivity.
The absence of Pakistani players in IPL events has persisted since 2009 due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, a pattern mirrored in other franchise leagues. In the South African SA20 League, inaugurated in 2023, none of the six teams—which are IPL-linked—have signed Pakistani players. Similarly, the UAE-based ILT20, also with Indian franchise owners, has fielded cricketers from 15 different countries over four seasons but has not included a single Pakistani player.
Analysts warn that such exclusions not only limit diversity in franchise cricket but also deprive tournaments like The Hundred of some of the world’s most talented players, potentially affecting the competitive standard and global appeal of the league.