Harry Brook Voices Concern Over Potential Pakistan Exclusion in The Hundred
England's white-ball captain Harry Brook has publicly stated it would be a "shame" if Pakistan players are overlooked by the four Indian-owned franchises during The Hundred's upcoming auction. Brook, one of the competition's most prominent figures, is set to represent the newly-renamed Sunrisers Leeds this summer but has confirmed he will not be taking on the captaincy role.
Ownership Changes and Geopolitical Tensions
The Headingley-based franchise was acquired last year by the Indian conglomerate Sun Group, which purchased 100 percent ownership in a deal that contributed to approximately £500 million generated from ownership stakes across all eight teams in The Hundred. However, reports have emerged suggesting that 67 Pakistan players—63 men and four women—entered in the March auction might be ignored by half of the franchises. This potential snub is widely attributed to the longstanding geopolitical tensions between Pakistan and India.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan sparked significant outcry on social media platform X, vehemently arguing that excluding players based solely on their nationality "should not be allowed to happen." Brook appears to align with his fellow Yorkshireman's sentiments, emphasizing the quality and appeal of Pakistani cricketers.
Brook's Stance on Inclusivity and Tournament Quality
Brook, who is poised to earn around £500,000 from his participation in the 100-ball competition running from 21 July to 16 August this year, elaborated on his position. "Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years," he stated. "I think there's about 50 or 60 players in the auction and it would be a shame to not see some of them in there. There's some amazing cricketers and they bring some great crowds as well."
He further emphasized, "It would be a shame to not see some of the Pakistan players in there and make this tournament and competition even better."
IPL Connections and ECB's Position
Manchester Super Giants, Southern Brave, and MI London are the other teams within The Hundred that maintain connections to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL has enforced a blanket ban on Pakistan players since 2009, raising concerns about similar policies influencing The Hundred's team selections.
In response to the growing controversy, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement this week asserting that the tournament "welcomes men's and women's players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that."
Brook's Captaincy History and Current Focus
Brook, currently preparing for England's T20 World Cup match against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Sunday, previously gained his first senior captaincy experience in The Hundred two years ago. Then leading the Northern Superchargers alongside head coach Andrew Flintoff, the duo guided the team to last year's eliminator. Unfortunately, rain disrupted their crucial encounter against Trent Rockets, who advanced to the final due to a superior group stage position.
Flintoff has since stepped down from his coaching role amid a pay dispute, while Brook, one of England's busiest multi-format players, has decided to relinquish the captaincy to manage his demanding workload this summer. "I have already said I am not going to captain this year," Brook explained. "I am staying away from that stuff and will let the head coach (Daniel Vettori) and whoever is in charge control that. My main focus at the minute is to play the T20 World Cup."
