As we look towards the 2026 auction for The Hundred, significant news is emerging concerning Pakistani players. Reports suggest that in this year's auction, Pakistani cricketers are likely to remain unsold, particularly by franchises associated with Indian Premier League (IPL) owners.
Recent ownership changes now mean that four teams—Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds—are at least partially under control of IPL-linked owners. It is being reported that these franchises will not be bidding on Pakistani players.
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The auction for players in The Hundred will be held on March 11 (for women) and March 12 (for men) in London. Nearly 1,000 players from about 18 countries, including several renowned Pakistani players, are included in the auction pool. However, due to the strategic decisions of IPL-linked franchises, the path for Pakistani players doesn't seem promising.
IPL Franchises Invest Beyond Borders
The backdrop to this situation is the tense political relationship between India and Pakistan, wherein no Pakistani player has had an IPL opportunity post-2008. Nowadays, IPL owners' investments have expanded into major T20 leagues, and Pakistani players have faced neglect there too. In the ILT20 (International League T20), only the American-owned Desert Vipers team has given opportunity to Pakistani cricketers.
Amid these developments, a senior officer from England and Wales cricket (ECB) allegedly indicated informally to a player agent that IPL-linked franchises wouldn't bid on Pakistani players. Previously, ECB's Chief Executive, Richard Gould, stated that discrimination against players of any nationality would not be tolerated in England's cricket. He made it clear that anti-discrimination policies would be strictly enforced, and any violations would face regulatory action.
In the last season, Pakistani players like Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim participated in Men's Hundred. Earlier, Shahin Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf were also a part of this league. However, no Pakistani players have yet found a place in the women's category. Now, all eyes are on the auctions happening on March 11 and 12. If Pakistani players do end up unsold, it might exemplify yet another collision of cricket and politics.
