Former England captain Michael Vaughan has commented on reports that Pakistani players could be overlooked in this year’s The Hundred, with franchises linked to the Indian Premier League unlikely to pick them in next month’s auction.
The new season of The Hundred, which runs from July 21 to August 16, comes on the back of new private investments that have significantly boosted player earnings. But while salaries are expected to rise, Pakistani cricketers may not share in the increase. Indian Premier League-owned teams have shied away from signing Pakistani players since 2009, a stance shaped by long-standing political tensions between the two countries.
“A senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has indicated to an agent that interest in its Pakistani players will be limited to parties not associated with the Indian Premier League,” the BBC said in a report on Thursday.
Vaughan has urged the England and Wales Cricket Board to intervene amid growing concerns that Pakistani players may be overlooked by IPL-owned franchises in the upcoming The Hundred auction, calling for immediate action to protect the overall ethos of the league.
“The ECB need to act quickly on this.. they own the league and this should not be allowed to happen.. the most inclusive sport in the country is not one to allow this to happen..” Vaughan wrote on X.
Pakistani players have long been sidelined from the Indian Premier League due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries, and recently, Bangladeshi cricketers have faced a similar setback.
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The controversy intensified when Kolkata Knight Riders brought in Mustafizur Rahman, drawing criticism from several quarters. Following this, the Board of Control for Cricket in India instructed the franchise to release the left-arm seamer.
“Another agent described the situation as an ‘unwritten rule’ across T20 leagues with Indian investments,” the report added.
63 Pakistani players have registered for The Hundred 2026 auction
Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Tariq are among the 63 Pakistani cricketers who have signed up for The Hundred’s 2026 auction.
The list includes a mix of senior internationals and up-and-coming players, reflecting Pakistan’s keen interest in participating in England’s 100-ball competition ahead of next season.
