ECB Assures No Nationality Bias in The Hundred Auction 2026, IPL-Linked Owners Pledge Fair Chance to Pakistan Cricketers

In a significant development ahead of the The Hundred auction 2026, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and all eight franchises have issued a joint statement confirming that no player will be excluded based on nationality. The assurance comes amid concerns that Pakistan cricketers might be overlooked by teams linked to Indian Premier League (IPL) owners.

Recent British media reports suggested that four franchises connected to IPL stakeholders could avoid selecting Pakistan players. These include Manchester Super Giants (owned by RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance Industries), Southern Brave (GMR Group), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun Group). The speculation triggered fears of potential discrimination in cricket during the upcoming auction.

ECB Statement: Selection Based on Merit

Responding swiftly, the ECB and franchise owners reaffirmed their commitment to fairness and inclusion. In their official ECB statement, they emphasized that The Hundred auction 2026 will strictly follow principles of equality.

“The Hundred was established to grow the game and ensure everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender, faith or nationality, feels they belong,” the statement read. “Players must not be excluded on the grounds of nationality.”

The board further clarified that regulations are in place to take strong action against any discriminatory conduct. All eight teams have committed to selecting players based solely on:

Cricketing performance

 Availability

 Team requirements

This clear position aims to reassure players and fans that merit will remain the sole deciding factor in team selection.

Pakistan Cricketers’ Participation in The Hundred

Historically, participation of Pakistan cricketers in The Hundred has been limited. Last season, only two players from Pakistan featured in the competition. Across the first five seasons, just nine Pakistani players have participated.

However, interest from Pakistan remains strong. A total of 67 male and female Pakistan players, including most of the men’s T20 World Cup squad, have registered for The Hundred auction 2026.

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan recently expressed his desire to play in the tournament, reflecting the enthusiasm among players for global T20 opportunities.

 IPL Ownership Links and Political Context

Pakistan players have not participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Similarly, no Pakistan cricketer has featured in South Africa’s SA20 league since its launch in 2023, as all teams are IPL-linked.

In the UAE’s ILT20 competition too, franchises connected to certain IPL owners have refrained from signing Pakistan players. These patterns had intensified concerns ahead of the The Hundred auction 2026.

England white-ball captain Harry Brook stated it would be disappointing if Pakistan players were left out. Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali also warned that excluding players based on nationality could potentially invite legal consequences.

 Why This Matters Now

With new franchise owners taking operational control this season, transparency in selection has become crucial. Cricket is increasingly viewed as a global sport that transcends borders. Any perception of discrimination in cricket could harm the competition’s credibility and brand value.

As the The Hundred auction 2026 approaches, the ECB’s firm stance sends a strong message: talent and performance—not nationality—will shape the tournament’s future.

The joint pledge by the ECB and franchise owners marks an important step in safeguarding inclusivity in modern cricket. While past participation numbers show limited representation, the upcoming auction offers a fresh opportunity for Pakistan cricketers to compete on equal terms.

With global attention on team selections, all eyes will now be on whether the principles outlined in the ECB statement are fully reflected in the final squad lists.

Just weeks before the highly anticipated player auction for The Hundred 2026, the tournament has been rocked by controversy. Multiple reports confirmed by BBC Sport reveal that the four franchises with Indian Premier League (IPL) ownership are unlikely to bid for any Pakistan internationals, continuing what agents describe as an "unwritten rule" across global T20 leagues with Indian investment .

The development threatens to undermine the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) commitment to diversity just as the competition enters a new financial era following a £500m private investment influx.

Which Teams Are Affected?

The decision impacts half of the eight teams in the competition. Manchester Super Giants (co-owned by Lucknow Super Giants' RPSG Group), MI London (Mumbai Indians), Southern Brave (Delhi Capitals' GMR Group), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sunrisers Hyderabad) are all at least partially controlled by entities with deep roots in the IPL .

According to the BBC, a senior ECB official reportedly informed a player agent that interest in Pakistan players would be "limited to sides not linked to the IPL." One agent described the situation as an industry-wide reality, stating it is simply "a given" that Indian-owned franchises will not risk political backlash by signing players from across the border .

63 Pakistan Players in Limbo

The irony of the situation is stark. Despite the apparent blockade, a massive 63 Pakistan cricketers have registered for the March auction . The list includes almost all of Pakistan's T20 stars, such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, and new white-ball captain Salman Ali Agha .

They join a pool of nearly 1,000 international players hoping to secure a contract in the competition, which runs from July 21 to August 16. However, with four teams effectively ruling themselves out, the remaining four franchises—London Spirit, Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, and Trent Rockets—represent the only potential destinations for Pakistani talent.

ECB Responds Amid Pressure

The ECB finds itself in a difficult position. While it sold stakes in the teams, it retains control of the competition and insists on anti-discrimination policies.

An ECB spokesperson reiterated the board's official stance: "The Hundred welcomes men's and women's players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that" .

However, former England captain Michael Vaughan has demanded urgent action. Reacting to the reports on social media, Vaughan wrote: "The ECB need to act fast on this. They own the league and this should not be allowed to happen. The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen" .

Last year, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould attempted to soothe fears, stating he expected "players from all nations to be selected for all teams" and that anti-discrimination policies were in place to ensure fairness .

A Global Pattern: From SA20 to ILT20

This is not an isolated incident. The same IPL-linked franchises have consistently avoided Pakistan players in other leagues.

- SA20 (South Africa): Since its 2023 launch, no Pakistan player has featured. All six teams are IPL-owned .

- ILT20 (UAE): Over four seasons, franchises controlled by the owners of MI London and Southern Brave have signed zero Pakistan players, while American-owned Desert Vipers have recruited eight .

Tom Moffat, chief executive of the World Cricketers' Association, stressed the importance of fair play. "Every player should have the right to fair and equal opportunity," he said. "While employers have autonomy in recruitment, those decisions should always align with principles of fairness, equality and respect" .

What Happens Next?

The player auction is scheduled for March 11 and 12 in London .

While franchises like Birmingham Phoenix have publicly stated they pick players "based on what they bring on the field," the silence from the four IPL-linked teams is deafening . As one prominent agent told the BBC, "Our players do not seek favours, they seek a fair field. I hope I am proven wrong" .

With the tournament set to begin on July 21, the coming weeks will determine whether The Hundred lives up to its name as a competition for all, or whether geopolitical tensions drawn a line through the team sheets.