PCB to write to ECB over reported snub of Pakistani players by Indian-owned The Hundred teams

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to formally raise concerns with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) amid reports that Pakistani players may be overlooked by Indian-owned franchises in this year’s edition of The Hundred.

According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, PCB officials are expected to write to the ECB, urging the governing body to ensure Pakistani players are treated fairly during the player auction scheduled for March 11 and 12.

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Media reports in England have suggested that agents representing Pakistani cricketers were informed that their players are not being considered by four franchises – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds – all of which are co-owned by Indian Premier League team owners.

Sources cited in the report said Pakistani officials view any blanket exclusion as contrary to the ECB’s publicly stated commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board, through Salman Naseer, is due to write to the ECB asking them to ensure Pakistani players are not treated unfairly,” sources told Telecom Asia Sport. “Any bias would go against the ECB’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity for Asian players.”

The report added that PCB officials have also pointed to the traditionally strong cricketing relationship between England and Pakistan, noting that similar concerns about Pakistani participation in The Hundred had surfaced in the past. Last season, both Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir represented the Northern Superchargers, demonstrating that Pakistani players have previously featured successfully in the competition.

This year, dozens of Pakistani players across both the men’s and women’s categories have registered for the auction, highlighting the depth of talent and interest from the country. The issue has also drawn reactions within England’s cricketing community, with white-ball captain Harry Brook criticizing the idea of Pakistani players being overlooked.

“Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years and have some awesome players. It would be a shame not to see some of them in The Hundred,” Brook said on the sidelines of the T20 World Cup 2026. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has also urged the ECB to examine the situation closely.

For Pakistan, the matter is seen as one that goes beyond auction dynamics and team composition, touching on the credibility of a global competition built on diversity and merit. With the auction approaching, attention now turns to whether the ECB will intervene and how The Hundred balances franchise autonomy with the inclusive principles it publicly champions.

However, proving deliberate exclusion could be difficult, as franchises may argue that squad composition and auction strategy, not bias, determined their decisions.