Pakistan players may miss out in the upcoming auction for England’s The Hundred, as franchises partly owned by investors linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL) appear unlikely to pick them, according to BBC Sports.
A senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) reportedly told an agent that interest in Pakistani players would be restricted to franchises not controlled by IPL-linked companies.
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Another agent described this as an “unwritten rule” in franchise leagues with IPL investments.
Four of The Hundred’s franchises, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds, are partially owned by IPL investors after the ECB sold its stakes in these teams last year, raising £500 million through private investment.
This development seems to contradict previous statements by ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould.
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Last year, Gould had said, “We are aware of the challenges Pakistani players face in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” emphasizing that The Hundred would remain inclusive for all players.
Historically, Pakistan cricketers have rarely featured in leagues influenced by the IPL, such as South Africa’s SA20, UAE’s ILT20, and the USA’s Major League Cricket.
However, they were a regular part of The Hundred, with Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim taking part in last year’s edition, the final season before the new investors took control.
