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.
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According to a BBC report, four Indian-affiliated teams — Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds — may avoid selecting Pakistani cricketers during next month’s player auction, scheduled for March 11–12 in London.
The development comes amid longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have restricted bilateral cricket ties to ICC tournaments. Pakistani players have not participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for years, and with IPL franchise owners expanding investments into other global leagues, concerns have grown about shrinking opportunities for Pakistani cricketers.
More than 50 Pakistani players have reportedly registered for The Hundred auction, alongside nearly 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations.
Vaughan, referencing the ECB’s commitment to inclusivity, posted on social media platform X: “The ECB need to act fast on this… they own the league and this should not be allowed to happen… the most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen.”
An ECB spokesperson stated that The Hundred welcomes both men’s and women’s players from around the world and expects all eight franchises to reflect that diversity. However, the board said it has been unable to substantiate the allegations raised in the report.
Only two Pakistani internationals — Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim — featured in last year’s edition of The Hundred, the final season before new investors became involved.
The issue, if confirmed, could raise broader questions about the intersection of politics and franchise cricket, particularly as Indian-owned teams expand their footprint across global T20 competitions.
