The Hundred: Coaches ‘not told to avoid Pakistan players’ in auction

Coaches of Hundred teams with investment from the Indian Premier League say they have not been directed away from signing Pakistan players.

BBC Sport reported in February that the four Hundred franchises linked to the IPL would not sign Pakistan players, mirroring a ban in place in India.

All eight Hundred franchises and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) subsequently released a joint statement saying “players must not be excluded on the grounds of nationality”.

As expected, the two Pakistan players involved in Wednesday’s auction for the women’s Hundred were not bought by any of the eight teams.

On Thursday, 17 Pakistani men are involved in the men’s auction, including fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, and spinner Usman Tariq.

Hundred side Sunrisers Leeds are part of the Sunrisers’ global network, with teams in India and South Africa.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape are one of six teams in the SA20 – all have links to IPL ownership and none have ever fielded a Pakistan player.

Adi Birrell, head coach of Sunrisers Leeds women and Sunrisers Eastern Cape men, said he had never been told not to sign a Pakistan player.

“No, I haven’t,” he told BBC Sport. “I’m sure there will be some interest in some players tomorrow.”

Asked if he believed there will be interest in Pakistan players from teams with IPL links, he said: “I think so, but I don’t know. I presume so. I haven’t heard that they won’t bid for them.”

Sunrisers Leeds are one of two Hundred teams owned outright by an IPL franchise, along with Southern Brave, who were bought by the part-owners of Delhi Capitals.

Brave women’s head coach Jonathan Batty said: “The only thing I’ve been told is ‘sign the best players to make this the best squad you possibly can’.

“We’ve had no other instructions than that and we’ve had total autonomy on who we sign. That’s how it’s been with the women’s team.”