Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf - (Source: X.com)
In a significant development, there are reports that Pakistan cricketers are all set to be boycotted by IPL-backed franchises during The Hundred auction. Notably, for the upcoming edition, four of the eight teams - Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds are now backed by India-owned sides.
A report from BBC stated that the franchises will respect the sentiment of India and its fans, which is why they will avoid going after Pakistan-origin players during The Hundred auction on March 11 and March 12. It is a massive setback for PCB as their players were in high demand across the globe, but now several talents will be without franchises in The Hundred as only four teams will chase Pakistan players.
Why Will IPL-Backed Franchises Avoid Pakistan Cricketers?
For the unversed, tensions between India and Pakistan are at an all-time high. The two nations nearly engaged in a full-fledged war in May 2025. The situation was brought under control, but the Indian government imposed a ban on artistic and entertainment content from Pakistan.
The impact was also on sports, particularly cricket, where the IPL teams made it a point for their sister franchises not to feature Pakistan based cricketers to avoid backlash from the fans. Notably, the IPL has not featured Pakistani cricketers since 2009.
Even if we look at the other leagues, then in SA20, all six franchises are owned by IPL teams, which is why there was no Pakistani cricketer, and every player who registered for the auction went unsold.
Also Read: Imad Wasim's Ex-Wife Drags Mohsin Naqvi In Divorce Case
Another reason is backlash, as mentioned above. Recently, a controversy erupted when MI Emirates had Shakib Al Hasan in their team, and the Mumbai Indians faced fans’ wrath for featuring a Bangladeshi cricketer despite recent heightened tension. Hence, the teams fear a big uproar and boycott if they rope in Pakistani cricketers.
All You Need To Know About The Hundred Auction
Talking about the Hundred 2026, the league will holds its inaugural auction at the Piccadilly Lights on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March. The Auction will see over 200 players go under the hammer, with the sixteen men’s and women’s teams picking up to 14 players each.
The women’s competition Auction will take place on March 11, while March 12 will see male cricketers undergoing the hammer in London.
Teams will compete to sign players across three phases: Hero Players, Ranked Players and Nominated Players.
Pakistan Cricketers Who Have Played In The Hundred
Shedding light on Pakistani cricketers in the Hundred, then only two players - Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim appeared in the 2025 edition. However, the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf have previously featured in the Hundred.
Recently, the BBL too roped in several Pakistan-based cricketers, and a similar trend was expected for the Hundred. However, with four teams now owned by IPL-backed franchises, the idea of seeing plenty of Pakistani cricketers seems bleak.
Also Read: Ibrahim Zadran Misses World Cup Century But Goes Past Rahmanullah Gurbaz For 'This' Record
