Former England captain Michael Vaughan and current England star Harry Brook have expressed concerns over reports that Pakistani players could be overlooked by Indian-owned franchises in England’s domestic white-ball competition, The Hundred.
Vaughan urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to “act fast” following BBC reports suggesting that four Indian-owned teams, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds, might deliberately avoid selecting Pakistani cricketers during the March 11–12 player auction in London.
Vaughan called such practices “contrary to the principles of inclusivity in cricket” and said the ECB, as the league’s governing body, should not allow such bias.
Brook echoed the sentiment on Saturday, describing it as “a shame” if Pakistani players were shut out of the tournament.
The issue has arisen amid ongoing political tensions between Pakistan and India, which have already prevented Pakistani players from participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
An ECB spokesperson stressed that The Hundred welcomes players from around the world, noting that nearly 1,000 players from 18 countries, including over 50 Pakistanis, have registered for the upcoming auction. Last year, only two Pakistani players, Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, featured in the league.
