NEWS DESK (MNN); Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called on the England and Wales Cricket Board to take swift action following reports that Pakistani players may be overlooked by Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred competition.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan have long restricted bilateral cricket ties, limiting encounters to major international tournaments. Their recent clash in Colombo during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup proceeded only after Pakistan withdrew a proposed boycott.
Reports suggest that political factors have already resulted in an informal exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League, the most financially rewarding T20 franchise tournament in world cricket. With several IPL franchise owners expanding their investments into teams across different countries, concerns are growing that opportunities for Pakistani players in global leagues could shrink further.
According to the BBC, the matter may influence next month’s player auction for The Hundred, a 100-ball-per-side tournament featuring eight franchise teams instead of the traditional 18 county sides. The auction is scheduled to take place in London on March 11-12.
The report claims that four Indian-affiliated franchises — Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds — may deliberately avoid selecting Pakistani players. More than 50 Pakistani cricketers have registered for the draft, alongside participation from four other teams.
While the ECB stated it has not been able to verify the allegations, Vaughan urged the governing body to investigate thoroughly. Writing on X, he emphasized that the ECB owns the league and must ensure such discrimination does not occur, reiterating its ambition of making cricket the most inclusive sport in the country.
An ECB spokesperson maintained that The Hundred welcomes players from around the world and expects all eight franchises to reflect that diversity. Nearly 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have entered the auction pool, including over 50 players each from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.
Only two Pakistani internationals — Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim — featured in last year’s edition of The Hundred, which was the final season before new investors joined the competition.
