IPL Owners Including Mukesh Ambani Deliver Final Word On Pakistan Players In The Hundred

Pakistan players' fate decided in The Hundred [Source: X]

In a significant development, the ECB released a joint statement from eight franchises, confirming there'll be no nationality-based discrimination in the player selection for the 2026 The Hundred auction. This comes as a massive relief for several Pakistan players, who have put their names in the auction list. 

The inaugural auction for the upcoming men's Hundred edition will be conducted on March 12. Before the marquee event, the ECB has clarified that Pakistani players who've registered for the auction won't be ignored by any team, despite four IPL-based franchises having significant stakes in the lucrative league. 

The persistent tussle between IPL teams and Pakistan players

It's worth mentioning that the BCCI doesn't allow Pakistan players to enter the IPL auction pool and participate in the league. The feud between the BCCI and the PCB dates back to 2008, when the Indian cricket body cut all ties with Pakistan following the latter's involvement in the barbaric Mumbai terror attack. 

Since then, the Pakistan players haven't featured in the IPL, and with several IPL teams now having stakes in The Hundred, a similar trend was expected to continue in the English league. 

While the Mumbai Indians have a major stake in the Oval Invincibles (renamed MI London), IPL teams like LSG, Delhi Capitals, and SRH have heavily invested in Manchester, Southern Brave, and Northern Superchargers (renamed Sunrisers Leeds), respectively. 

ECB releases statement, Pakistan players not to be discriminated in The Hundred

As per an earlier report, the IPL franchises were supposed to boycott Pakistani players in the upcoming Hundred auction due to the country's recent involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. 

However, the ECB has clarified that none of the deserving players will be discriminated for their nationality, making sure the English league remains inclusive and welcoming to cricketers from all across the globe. 

Also read: ECB To Punish IPL-Owned Hundred Teams For Pakistan Snub? Letter Makes Huge Claim

The English board has further added that it will put its best foot forward to choose the best players so that The Hundred 2026 witnesses fierce competitiveness and elevates its stature as one of the major cricketing leagues. 

"The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight of The Hundred team franchises reaffirm their commitment to ensuring The Hundred continues to be a competition that is inclusive, welcoming and open to all. The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone – regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or other – can feel they belong in our sport. This has been a guiding principle from the outset and remains at the heart of everything we do," the ECB stated. 

"As the governing body responsible for running the tournament, the ECB is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination, and has regulations in place to take robust action to tackle any such conduct. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality. All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team," it added. 

The Mukesh Ambani-owned Mumbai Indians' Hundred franchise, MI London, also echoed the ECB's sentiments, stating, 

"MI London is committed to ensuring The Hundred is a competition that it is inclusive, welcoming and open to all. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality. Alongside the other seven teams, we commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team."

Which Pakistan players have registered for The Hundred auction?

63 Pakistan players, including several high-profile names, have registered for The Hundred 2026 auction. 

Ace speedster Shaheen Afridi, all-rounder Saim Ayub, skipper Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed and Sahibzada Farhan, etc., are expected to grab a million eyeballs when they go under the hammer during the auction process. 

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