Sahibzada Farhan (L) and Mukesh Ambani (R) (Source: X) The Pakistan opener, Sahibzada Farhan, has finally broken his silence after a lot of discussions around the possibilities for Pakistan players in the The Hundred. Just a few days back, the cricketing fraternity was left shocked when some media reports stated that IPL-backed or India-linked franchises would boycott Pakistani players. A BBC report suggested that the franchises owned by Indian owners will uphold the national interests and the sentiments of their Indian fans. So, avoiding Pakistan-origin players is something they are bound to do. Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan, the core member of the Pakistan cricket team in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, expressed his feelings on the question of playing in one of the top franchise cricket leagues in England. “Every player wants to get picked” - Sahibzada Farhan on hopes of playing The HundredSahibzada Farhan named The Hundred as one of the best leagues among all the franchise cricket leagues across the world. He also spoke about his chances of getting picked in the tournament’s upcoming edition. “The Hundred is one of the best leagues in the world. Every player wants to get picked in different leagues around the world. Hopefully, I get picked in the Auction,” said Sahibzada Farhan during a pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s Super-8 game in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking of Sahibzada Farhan’s performance for Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup, he has been in a decent run of form except for a duck against India. Farhan is the leading run-scorer for Pakistan and also the overall leading run-scorer in the tournament. Sahibzada Farhan has aggregated 220 runs in four innings, at a brilliant average of 73.33 and a strike rate of 164.17, hitting a century and a half-century. Also Read: IPL Teams To Boycott Pakistan During The Hundred 2026 AuctionA timeline of ‘The Hundred’ controversy around Pakistan-origin cricketers?Notably, the IPL franchises, Mumbai Indians, LSG, SRH, and Delhi Capitals, partially or completely own some of the teams in England-based franchise tournament. The franchises are on the way to implement the ‘IPL’ decision in the English league, and Pakistani players have been banned from IPL since their first appearance in 2008. The tensions were further fuelled after the full-fledged border conflicts between India and Pakistan. The BCCI has distanced itself from the PCB and the Pakistan cricket team at all levels, be it by avoiding bilateral series against them or by not visiting Pakistan for ICC events. Meanwhile, the geopolitical tensions escalated further in the subcontinent due to the rift between India and Bangladesh. In the aftermath, the Mukesh Ambani-owned Mumbai Indians faced severe backlash for including Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the MI Emirates team for the UAE-based league, ILT20. It all started after KKR were asked to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. The BCCI took this decision in light of the increasing anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh. English cricketers react to IPL-backed franchises deciding The Hundred’s fateIn the same vein, the England cricketers have come up with sharp reactions to IPL-backed and India-linked franchises playing a major role in deciding which players the included in The Hundred. Former England captain Michael Vaughan and current white-ball skipper Harry Brook didn’t mince words while expressing their views on the matter. “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,” wrote Michael Vaughan in his X-post while reacting to this controversy around IPL-backed franchises blocking Pakistan players in The Hundred. Michael Vaughan @MichaelVaughan 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 .. “Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years and have some awesome players, some of the best players in the world. It would be a shame not to see some of them in The Hundred,” said Harry Brook during a pre-match press conference, as England took on Sri Lanka in their Super-8 clash in the T20 World Cup 2026. Now, the ball is in the court of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to resolve this entire deadlock around the involvement of Pakistani players in one of the major English cricket leagues. Also Read: PAK vs ENG Live Streaming: Super 8, T20 World Cup 2026 Live Telecast - When and Where to Watch Live?
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