The Hundred: IPL-linked teams ‘not considering Pakistan players’

Pakistan cricketers are not being considered by Indian-owned sides for next month’s Hundred auction, sources have told BBC Sport.

Players from Pakistan have not featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 because of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Four of The Hundred’s eight franchises – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – are now at least part-owned by companies that control IPL teams.

In messages seen by the BBC, a senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) indicated to an agent that interest in his Pakistan players would be limited to sides not linked to the IPL.

Another agent described the situation as “an unwritten rule” across T20 leagues with Indian investment.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould said last year he expected “players from all nations to be selected for all teams” in The Hundred and warned “clear anti-discrimination policies” were in place.

None of the four teams or ownership groups in question responded to requests for comment.

An ECB spokesperson said: “The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that.

“Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered for The Hundred auction, with representation on the longlist of over 50 players respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.”