Something really troubling is happening in cricket right now. Pakistani players might get completely shut out of The Hundred tournament next season. Why? Because Indian companies own teams.
Michael Vaughan isn’t staying quiet about this mess. The former England captain took to Twitter with a strong message.
“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,” he wrote.
Four teams in The Hundred now have IPL owners. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds all belong to Indian franchises. These same owners have banned Pakistani players from the IPL since 2009.
Why Pakistani Cricketers Face This Problem
Let’s be real – politics is ruining cricket opportunities for talented players. India and Pakistan have tense relations.
Here’s what players’ agents are saying. One agent revealed Indian-owned teams in ILT20, MLC, and SA20 avoid Pakistanis completely. They fear backlash from the Indian fans. Another agent put it bluntly – Pakistan players have “zero chance” at these franchises.
The numbers tell the story. Only two Pakistani players got to play last year – Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim. This happened before private investors bought the teams.
Pakistani Stars Register Despite Slim Hopes
A total of 63 Pakistani cricketers registered for The Hundred 2026 auction anyway. That includes nearly everyone from their T20 World Cup squad. Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Saim Ayub, and Usman Tariq all signed up.
The auction happens on March 11 and 12 in London. A total of 710 players from cricket nations entered. Guess which country isn’t there? India. Their BCCI doesn’t allow players in other leagues.
Six of eight Hundred franchises now have Indian connections. London Spirit, MI Oval, Manchester SuperGiants, Southern Brave, SunRisers Leeds, and Welsh Fire all do. That’s three-quarters of the tournament controlled by Indian money.
What This Means for Cricket’s Future
ECB chief Richard Gould warned new owners about fair player selection. He told them to pick from all nations. But will they listen? That’s the big question.
Michael Vaughan’s concern goes deeper than one tournament. Cricket needs to stay inclusive and fair. When politics decides who plays, the sport loses its soul.
