Before the auction of T20 league The Hundred 2026 to be held in England, an important update has come out regarding Pakistani players. According to media reports, it is feared that many Pakistani cricketers will remain unsold in this auction. Especially those franchise teams which are owned or partially controlled by the owners associated with IPL are not likely to bid on Pakistani players.
Change in the share of some teams of The Hundred
Recently, there has been a change in the stake of some teams of The Hundred, after which teams like Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds have partially come under the influence of investors associated with IPL. According to reports, the strategy of these franchises may be to maintain distance from Pakistani players. In such a situation, it can be challenging for Pakistani cricketers to make a place in this league.
When will the player auction for The Hundred 2026 take place?
The player auction for The Hundred 2026 will be held in London on March 11 for the women’s category and on March 12 for the men’s category. About 1000 players from about 18 countries have been included in this auction, in which many prominent players of Pakistan are also present. However, considering the current circumstances, there remains uncertainty regarding his selection.
The reason behind this situation is also believed to be the effect of long standing political and cricket relations between India and Pakistan. Since 2008, no Pakistani player has got a chance to play in IPL. Over time, IPL franchise owners have also started investing in T20 leagues of other countries, increasing their influence globally. Due to this, limited participation of Pakistani players has been seen in some leagues. For example, in the International League T20 held in UAE, only one American-owned team gave a chance to Pakistani players.
Meanwhile, it has also come to light that a senior official of the England and Wales Cricket Board has allegedly given an informal indication to a player agent that the owners associated with IPL may avoid bidding on Pakistani players. However, the Board’s Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould had earlier clarified that players from any country will not be discriminated against in England cricket and equal treatment will be ensured for all.
Which players took part in the last season?
Last season, players like Mohammad Aamir and Imad Wasim of Pakistan took part in The Hundred. Apart from this, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf have also been a part of this league earlier. Now all eyes are on the upcoming auction. If Pakistani players indeed remain unsold this time, it could prove to be an important development highlighting the complex relationship between cricket and politics.
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