The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and all eight franchises in The Hundred have jointly insisted that the competition is “inclusive and open to all,” following reports that some Indian-owned teams might avoid selecting Pakistani players at next month’s auction. A total of 67 Pakistani cricketers—63 men and four women—have registered for the draft.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ECB and the eight teams reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring The Hundred remains a welcoming environment. “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,” the statement said. “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.”
The clarification came after a BBC report claimed that Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds would not consider Pakistani players at the March auction. It is understood the ECB sent an email to all eight sides on Sunday, warning that action would be taken if there was any evidence of discrimination, including ignoring players based on nationality.
England’s white-ball captain, Harry Brook, also weighed in, saying it would be “a shame” not to see Pakistani players in the tournament. “Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years,” Brook said. “There’s some amazing cricketers and they bring some great crowds as well.”
The controversy reflects longstanding geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, which have led to an effective ban on Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League since 2009. No Pakistani players were selected in last year’s Hundred draft, though Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim featured as replacements—largely due to Pakistan’s busy summer schedule. This year, Pakistan are due to play two Tests in the West Indies during the tournament, which runs from 21 July to 16 August, followed by a three-Test series against England starting three days after the Hundred final.
