Overview:
Following the confirmation of Indian investment last year, ECB chief executive Richard Gould expressed his expectation that players from all nations would be selected in The Hundred.
Pakistani players are set to miss out on the upcoming edition of The Hundred, with no player from the country being considered by teams with Indian investments. This comes after Pakistan’s absence from the IPL since 2009 and the SA20, where all teams are IPL-owned.
As per a BBC report, a senior ECB official has informed an agent that interest in Pakistani players will be restricted to teams without IPL ownership ties. Meanwhile, another agent referred to this scenario as an “unwritten rule” followed across the leagues with Indian investments.
James Sheridan, deputy chair of Manchester Super Giants, remarked that despite the recent developments, the group’s focus continues to be on creating the most formidable squad.
“The only discussions we’ve had are focused on selecting the two strongest squads to give us the best opportunity to win both competitions,” Sheridan told the BBC.
“The Hundred embraces players from both the men’s and women’s game globally, and we anticipate the eight teams will represent this diversity,” said the ECB spokesperson.
“Nearly 1,000 cricketers from 18 countries have signed up for The Hundred auction, with over 50 players each from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the West Indies included in the list,” the spokesperson added.
Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, both former Pakistan internationals, participated in last year’s edition of The Hundred, before new investors took charge.
Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf featured in earlier editions of The Hundred men’s tournament. There has been no participation from Pakistan players in the women’s event.
Following the confirmation of Indian investment last year, ECB chief executive Richard Gould expressed his expectation that players from all nations would be selected in The Hundred, emphasizing that strict anti-discrimination policies were in place. The absence of Pakistan players comes as no surprise.
“Every player deserves the right to a fair and equal opportunity,” Tom Moffat, CEO of the World Cricketers’ Association, the global players’ union, said.
“Although employers have the freedom to make recruitment decisions, these choices should always reflect the principles of fairness, equality, and respect,” he added.