‘Players won’t be excluded because of nationality’:ECB, Hundred’s IPL owners pledge no discrimination against Pakistan cricketers in auction

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the franchises of The Hundred have issued a strong joint statement confirming that players will not be excluded because of their nationality. The statement comes amid concerns that Pakistani cricketers might be ignored by some teams during next month’s auction. Reports in British media had suggested that four franchises with links to Indian Premier League (IPL) owners could avoid selecting Pakistan players. These teams include Manchester Super Giants (owned by RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance), Southern Brave (GMR), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun Group). The reports raised fears of possible discrimination in the player selection process. With new owners set to take control of franchise operations this season, the ECB and team owners moved quickly to clarify their position. They emphasised that fairness and equal opportunity remain key principles of the competition. ECB and franchises issue a clear statement In their joint statement, the ECB and all eight team owners said, “The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or other, can feel they belong in our sport. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality.” They added further, “As the governing body responsible for running the tournament, the ECB is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination, and has regulations in place to take robust action to tackle any such conduct. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality. All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team. Also read: Sanju Samson’s return, net run rate pressure: 3 talking points for India in do-or-die match vs Zimbabwe Limited Pakistan participation in previous seasons Even in earlier seasons, only a few Pakistan players have featured in The Hundred. Last year, just two Pakistan cricketers were part of the competition, and overall only nine have played across the first five seasons. However, interest from Pakistani players remains high. Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan recently said he wants to participate in the tournament. In total, 67 male and female Pakistan cricketers, including most of the men’s T20 World Cup squad, have registered for the upcoming auction. Political and league ownership factors Pakistan players have not been part of the IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. Similarly, no Pakistan cricketer has played in South Africa’s SA20 league since its launch in 2023, as all teams are owned by IPL-linked franchises. In the UAE’s ILT20 league as well, franchises connected to MI London and Southern Brave owners have not signed any Pakistan players in four seasons. England captain Harry Brook said, “It would be disappointing if Pakistan players were left out of The Hundred. Spinner Moeen Ali also warned that excluding players based on nationality could result in legal action against franchise owners.” With the auction approaching, the ECB’s statement aims to reassure players and fans that team selections will be fair and based only on cricketing merit.”