‘Massive shame’: English cricket rejects Pakistan boycott claim despite bombshell report

Pakistani players will not be discriminated against in selection for the Hundred, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Tuesday, despite reports they could be overlooked due to political tensions with India.

The BBC reported last week that the four Indian-owned franchises of the eight-team competition - Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds - were not considering Pakistani players for next month’s auction.

A total of 67 Pakistan players - 63 men and four women - have submitted themselves for selection in this year’s tournament.

“The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight of The Hundred team franchises reaffirm their commitment to ensuring The Hundred continues to be a competition that is inclusive, welcoming and open to all,” the ECB said in a statement.

“The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone – regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or other – can feel they belong in our sport. This has been a guiding principle from the outset and remains at the heart of everything we do.

“As the governing body responsible for running the tournament, the ECB is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination, and has regulations in place to take robust action to tackle any such conduct. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality.

“All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team.

“We want The Hundred to feature the very best talent from across the world, and will continue working proactively to ensure that the competition is a benchmark for inclusivity.”

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

With several IPL owners now owning teams in several different countries, opportunities for Pakistani cricketers to participate in various other leagues are in danger of being reduced further.

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan, the T20 World Cup’s leading run-scorer, remains hopeful of securing a contract to play in this year’s Hundred despite the reports.

“Because every player wants to play in every league, play in the good leagues,” Farhan said.

“The Hundred is one of the best leagues. So I hope for the best.”

“This is not in our hands, who picks us or who doesn’t,” he added.

“Whichever team is interested in picking us can, and we are ready to play in that league. It’s not like people are not interested in us.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of the leading voices calling for action from the ECB over the rumours.

“They own the league and this should not be allowed to happen,” said Vaughan, who referenced the ECB’s stated aim of cricket becoming the most inclusive sport in England.

“The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen.”

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who has family roots in Pakistani Kashmir, warned that players would take action if the Hundred’s franchises boycotted Pakistan players.

“In the UK, I’m not sure that can happen and I hope it doesn’t happen,” Ali said.

“It just shouldn’t. It’d be a massive shame. I’m sure the ECB will keep an eye out.

“There’ll be a group of players that will speak up. There’ll be things done. Anyone that has any sort of concern for these kind of things — it doesn’t matter if they have Pakistani heritage — should speak up. I’ve not really had a chance to speak to anyone, but most players would be on the same page.”

Players will go under the hammer in London on March 11 and 12.