IPL-linked teams 'not considering Pakistan players'

The Hundred will have a player auction and significantly increase salaries this season following private investment [Getty Images] Pakistan cricketers are not being considered by Indian-owned sides for next month's Hundred auction, sources have told BBC Sport. Players from Pakistan have not featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 because of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Four of The Hundred's eight franchises - Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds - are now at least part-owned by companies that control IPL teams. In messages seen by the BBC, a senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) indicated to an agent that interest in his Pakistan players would be limited to sides not linked to the IPL.

Another agent described the situation as "an unwritten rule" across T20 leagues with Indian investment. ECB chief executive Richard Gould said last year he expected "players from all nations to be selected for all teams" in The Hundred and warned "clear anti-discrimination policies" were in place.

Three of the four teams or ownership groups in question have not responded to requests for comment but James Sheridan, deputy chair of Manchester Super Giants, told BBC Sport: "The only conversations we've had is to pick the two best squads to give us the best possible chance of winning the two competitions." An ECB spokesperson said: "The Hundred welcomes men's and women's players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that.

"Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered for The Hundred auction, with representation on the longlist of over 50 players respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies." Pakistan's Imad Wasim represented Northern Superchargers - now known as Sunrisers Leeds - last season [Getty Images] Two Pakistan internationals - Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim - appeared in last year's tournament, which was the final edition before new investors took control.

Others - including Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf - featured in earlier seasons of the men's competition. No Pakistan players have appeared in the women's Hundred. Pakistan's men are sixth in the International Cricket Council's world T20 team rankings, with the women's team eighth.

The men's side are scheduled to play a Test series in the West Indies during this year's Hundred, though white-ball specialists would still be available. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has previously withdrawn no-objection certificates (NOCs) - required for players to take part in overseas tournaments - at short notice.

However, sources point to the participation of seven leading players in Australia's recent Big Bash League as evidence the PCB has shown flexibility over player availability. A growing trend in franchise cricket No Pakistan players have featured in South Africa's SA20, which launched in 2023. All six of its teams are owned by IPL franchise groups - including the four now involved in The Hundred.

In the UAE's ILT20, franchises controlled by the owners of MI London and Southern Brave have not signed a Pakistan player across four seasons, but have recruited cricketers from 15 other nationalities. By contrast, American-owned ILT20 side Desert Vipers have signed eight Pakistan players over the same period.

In January this year, IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman after being instructed to do so by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). No official reason was given but it came amid strained political tensions between India and neighbouring Bangladesh.