In the 2025 The Hundred draft, no Pakistan players were picked, surprising many given their numbers. The absence is attributed to limited overseas slots and potential scheduling conflicts with national duties. The ECB’s reassurance against bans, linked to IPL investments, has not alleviated concerns. This situation highlights the existing issues faced by Pakistani players in global league participation.
The draft for The Hundred 2025 took place recently, and no players from Pakistan were selected, despite five women’s players and 45 men’s players registering. The absence of picks for the women’s roster wasn’t surprising, given the limited overseas slots and options; however, the complete omission of any men’s players was unexpected. Many more Pakistan players were available, with a few overseas slots still open across teams.
The changes in The Hundred’s structure, notably the increased investment from external sources, have created concern among Pakistan players. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has allowed private investment in franchises, with several tied to Indian Premier League (IPL) owners. This relationship between Pakistan and the IPL remains complicated, as Pakistani players have not participated in IPL since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, despite some having taken coaching or commentary roles.
As fear mounted that IPL’s influence could indirectly ban Pakistan players from The Hundred, ECB chair Richard Gould previously assured that Pakistani players would not be excluded. However, the recent draft has renewed speculation about a possible ‘soft’ ban on Pakistani players, with their representation in the league historically weak.
Another significant factor affecting the draft outcomes is the conflicting schedules of Pakistan’s national team. Pakistan is set to take part in a series of ODIs and T20Is in the West Indies from late July to mid-August, which overlaps significantly with The Hundred, scheduled from August 5 to August 31. As franchises hesitated to select players likely to withdraw for national duties, this has led to the non-selection of Pakistan players.
Last season also highlighted this issue when Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from The Hundred but later accepted a deal in the Global T20 Canada, before being denied the required No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the PCB to participate. These incidents have made franchises cautious about picking players with uncertain availability.
The absence of Pakistani players in The Hundred 2025 draft stems from a combination of limited overseas opportunities, potential bans linked to IPL investments, and crucial scheduling conflicts with the national team. While the ECB assures that no formal bans exist, the fear of ‘soft’ bans alongside player availability issues has led to no selections this year. This trend emphasizes the ongoing challenges that Pakistan players face in gaining greater representation in international leagues.
Original Source: www.wisden.com
