Discussion around the Hundred teams Pakistan players auction has intensified after coaches from several franchises said they were never instructed to avoid signing Pakistani cricketers.
Earlier reports suggested that teams in the Indian Premier League might not sign Pakistan players, as is the case in India’s domestic leagues.
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight franchises in The Hundred released a joint statement clarifying that players must not be excluded based on nationality
Despite speculation, several team coaches say they have received no instructions preventing them from selecting Pakistani cricketers. Adi Birrell, head coach of Sunrisers Leeds women and Sunrisers Eastern Cape men, confirmed he had not been told to avoid Pakistan players.
He said he expected there could be interest in some players during the auction. Meanwhile, Jonathan Batty, women’s head coach of Southern Brave, said his only instruction was to build the strongest possible squad.
According to Batty, the coaching staff has full autonomy when selecting players for the team.
Pakistan Players Involved in The Hundred Auction
Two Pakistan players were included in the women’s auction on Wednesday, though none were selected by the eight teams.
Attention now turns to the men’s auction, where 17 Pakistan players are available for selection. Notable names include fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, as well as spinner Usman Tariq.
Their participation has drawn significant interest among fans who want to see more Pakistani players competing in global franchise leagues.
Read: ECB Hundred Inclusivity Statement: No Player Exclusion Based on Nationality
Some franchises in The Hundred have ownership or investment links with teams in the Indian Premier League. For example, Sunrisers Leeds is connected to the Sunrisers franchise network, which includes teams in India and South Africa.
In the SA20 tournament in South Africa, all six teams have IPL ownership links. Interestingly, none of those teams has previously fielded a Pakistan player.
