The Hundred: IPL teams are ‘not considering Pakistani players’
Indian-owned teams are not considering Pakistani cricketers for next month’s Hundred auction, sources told BBC Sport.
Players from Pakistan have not participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 due to diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Four of the eight franchises in The Hundred – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – are now owned at least in part by the companies that control the IPL teams.
Pakistani players would be limited to teams not associated with the IPL.
In messages seen by the BBC, a senior England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) official indicated to an agent that their interest in Pakistani players would be limited to teams not associated with the IPL.
Another agent described the situation as “an unwritten rule” in T20 leagues with Indian investment.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said last year that he expected “players from all countries to be selected for all teams” in The Hundred and warned that “clear anti-discrimination policies” were in place.
None of the four teams or ownership groups in question responded to requests for comment.
An ECB spokesperson said: “The Hundred welcomes men and women players from around the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect this.”
“Nearly 1,000 cricketers from 18 countries have registered for The Hundred auction, with Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and the West Indies representing over 50 players, respectively.”
