Former captain Michael Vaughan has urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take swift action regarding reports that Indian-owned teams will exclude Pakistani players from the domestic Hundred competition during the T20 World Cup 2026.
Longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan have resulted in the two nations only competing against each other in international cricket events.
However, their recent encounter in Colombo during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka occurred only after Pakistan decided to lift a boycott.
It has been speculated that political factors have effectively barred Pakistani players from participating in the Indian Premier League, which is the most lucrative T20 franchise competition in world cricket.
Furthermore, as several IPL owners now possess teams in various countries, the chances for Pakistani cricketers to engage in different leagues are at risk of diminishing even more.
Indian-owned teams reject Pakistani players
Players will be auctioned in London on March 11-12, and the four Indian-affiliated Hundred teams, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds are reportedly set to intentionally avoid selecting players from Pakistan.
Over 50 Pakistani cricketers have expressed their availability, with four additional teams participating in the bidding process for the T20 World Cup 2026.
The ECB has not been able to confirm the allegations, however, former England captain Vaughan has urged the governing body to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Vaughan, referencing the ECB’s declared goal of making cricket the most inclusive sport in the country, posted on Friday on X, “The ECB needs to act quickly on this, they own the league, and this should not be permitted. The most inclusive sport in the country cannot allow this to occur.”
Nearly 1,000 cricketers from 18 different countries have signed up for The Hundred auction, featuring over 50 players from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the West Indies on the longlist.
In the previous year’s edition of The Hundred, which was the last before new investors took over, only two Pakistani internationals, Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, participated.
