Michael Vaughan urges ECB to probe reports of Pakistani players being overlooked in The Hundred

LONDON: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to “act fast” following reports that Pakistani players could be overlooked by Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred.

Political tensions between India and Pakistan have long limited bilateral cricket ties, with the two sides facing each other mainly in international tournaments. Pakistani players have also effectively been absent from the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s most lucrative T20 franchise competition, amid strained relations.

With several IPL owners now holding stakes in teams across global leagues, concerns have emerged that opportunities for Pakistani cricketers may shrink further.

According to a BBC report, the issue could surface during next month’s player auction for The Hundred, a 100-balls-per-side tournament featuring eight city-based franchises. The auction is scheduled to take place in London on March 11-12.

The report alleged that four Indian-affiliated teams — Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds — may deliberately avoid selecting players from Pakistan. More than 50 Pakistani cricketers have registered for the auction, alongside nearly 1,000 players from 18 nations.

The ECB said it had been unable to substantiate the allegations but stressed that The Hundred welcomes players from around the world and expects all eight teams to reflect that diversity.

Responding on X, Vaughan referenced the ECB’s goal of making cricket the most inclusive sport in the country. “The ECB need to act fast on this… they own the league and this should not be allowed to happen,” he wrote. “The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen.”

An ECB spokesperson reiterated that over 50 players each from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and the West Indies are on the longlist for the auction.

Only two Pakistan internationals — Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim — featured in last year’s edition of The Hundred, which was the final season before new investors became involved.