🔥 Cricket Politics Explodes: Are Pakistan Players Being Frozen Out of The Hundred?
The global T20 ecosystem just took another controversial turn.
IPL-Linked The Hundred Franchises to Overlook Pakistan Players? Full Analysis of ECB, IPL Influence & Franchise Politics
A fresh report from England suggests that franchises in The Hundred — specifically those partially owned by investors linked to the Indian Premier League — are unlikely to “consider” Pakistan players at next month’s auction.
Not officially banned.
Not formally excluded.
But strategically overlooked.
If true, this isn’t just a selection story.
This is power politics in franchise cricket.
And it exposes how deeply IPL-linked ownership structures may be shaping the global T20 marketplace.
Let’s break this down without fear or sugarcoating.
📌 The Core of the Report – What’s Being Alleged?
According to English media, a senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board reportedly told an agent that:
Interest in Pakistan players will likely be limited to The Hundred franchises not owned by IPL-linked investors.
Another agent described it as an “unwritten rule” spreading across leagues influenced by IPL-backed ownership groups.
Unwritten rule.
That phrase alone should make every cricket administrator uncomfortable.
Because unwritten rules are how unofficial exclusions are enforced without leaving fingerprints.
🏏 Which Franchises Are IPL-Linked?
Four teams in The Hundred are partially owned by IPL investors:
Manchester Super Giants
MI London
Southern Brave
Sunrisers Leeds
These ownership structures were finalized after the ECB sold stakes to raise £500 million in private investment.
The ECB’s strategy was clear:
Inject capital.
Professionalize operations.
Globalize the brand.
But private investment always comes with influence.
And influence reshapes decisions.
⚖️ ECB’s Previous Assurance – Now Under Scrutiny
ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould had previously assured that Pakistani players would not face restrictions in The Hundred.
His stance was clear: inclusivity.
He emphasized that the competition would not replicate geopolitical or franchise-level exclusions seen elsewhere.
Yet this new report contradicts that narrative.
If franchises independently avoid selecting Pakistan players due to IPL affiliations, then inclusivity exists only in theory.
And that’s where the controversy intensifies.
🌍 The Larger Pattern – A Global T20 Reality
Let’s zoom out.
Pakistan players have not featured in the IPL since 2008.
They have also had minimal participation in:
SA20
International League T20
Major League Cricket
All leagues with IPL-affiliated ownership involvement.
Coincidence?
Or ecosystem alignment?
When ownership networks overlap, policies often align informally.
That’s how global franchise ecosystems operate.
🧠 Cricketory Insight: Follow the Ownership Web
Modern T20 cricket is no longer just about national boards.
It’s about investment groups.
Conglomerates.
Portfolio owners.
An IPL team owner might also hold stakes in:
A South African franchise.
A UAE franchise.
An English franchise.
When one investor operates across leagues, brand alignment becomes a priority.
And brand alignment sometimes leads to selective recruitment patterns.
That’s the uncomfortable truth.
💥 Why Pakistan Players Matter in The Hundred
Before IPL-linked investment, Pakistan players were regular contributors in The Hundred.
Last season saw appearances from:
Mohammad Amir
Imad Wasim
They delivered quality performances.
They attracted South Asian viewership.
They enhanced competition depth.
So why would franchises suddenly pivot away?
Commercial alignment.
Strategic neutrality.
Or political caution?
Whatever the reasoning, talent exclusion weakens competition integrity.
📊 Commercial Considerations – Is This About Market Access?
Here’s a blunt reality.
IPL remains the financial epicenter of franchise cricket.
Investors protect relationships.
If ownership groups believe that selecting Pakistan players complicates broader business interests, they may avoid the risk.
Not because of cricketing reasons.
But because of ecosystem diplomacy.
That’s modern sports capitalism.
⚡ Competitive Impact – Who Loses?
If Pakistan players are quietly sidelined, multiple stakeholders lose:
The Hundred loses diversity of skill sets.
Fans lose marquee matchups.
Players lose earning opportunities.
Cricket loses credibility.
Talent should dictate selection.
Not investment alignment.
🔥 Is This a Formal Ban?
No.
That’s what makes it complex.
There is no official ECB directive.
No written restriction.
No public policy.
Instead, the concern revolves around selective non-engagement at auction.
In franchise cricket, not picking someone is easier than banning them.
And harder to challenge.
🧩 The Auction Dynamics – How Exclusion Happens Subtly
In franchise auctions:
Teams nominate targets beforehand.
Agents negotiate expectations.
Budgets are allocated strategically.
If franchises collectively deprioritize a player pool, they simply don’t bid.
No headlines.
No controversy.
Just silence.
That’s how “unwritten rules” operate.
🏟️ The Hundred’s Identity Crisis
The Hundred was positioned as:
Innovative.
Global.
Inclusive.
Commercially ambitious.
Private investment brought financial strength.
But it may also be shifting competitive autonomy.
If franchise decisions increasingly mirror IPL ecosystem patterns, The Hundred risks becoming an extension of broader ownership influence.
And that’s not necessarily what English cricket promised.
🧠 Cricketory Deep Dive – Power Structures in T20 Cricket
The IPL is not just a league.
It’s an economic superpower.
When IPL owners expand internationally, they don’t just buy teams.
They export operational philosophy.
Brand management strategy.
Commercial caution.
Over time, multi-league ownership networks create implicit policy alignment.
That doesn’t require conspiracy.
It requires shared interest.
And shared interest shapes behavior.
🚨 What This Means for Pakistan Cricket
Pakistan cricket has already navigated limited franchise exposure.
Players rely on:
PSL contracts.
County cricket stints.
International match fees.
If access to English franchise leagues narrows, financial implications follow.
Exposure declines.
Brand presence reduces.
And competitive development opportunities shrink.
That’s not ideal for any cricketing nation.
🏏 Talent vs Politics – The Eternal Debate
Cricket has long wrestled with geopolitics.
But franchise cricket was supposed to transcend national politics.
Money doesn’t carry passports.
Performance should be the only currency.
If investors indirectly shape selection pools, franchise cricket risks replicating the same political barriers it claimed to avoid.
📈 Possible Outcomes Moving Forward
Scenario 1: Pakistan players are still selected by non-IPL-owned franchises.
Scenario 2: Minimal picks occur, validating the report.
Scenario 3: ECB intervenes with stronger assurances.
Scenario 4: Silence prevails and the issue fades without clarity.
The auction will reveal reality.
💬 FAQs
Q1. Is there an official ban on Pakistan players?
A: No official ban has been announced.
Q2. Which league is involved?
A: The Hundred in England.
Q3. Which franchises are IPL-linked?
A: Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds.
Q4. Did ECB promise inclusivity?
A: Yes, CEO Richard Gould previously stated Pakistani players would not face restrictions.
Q5. Have Pakistan players played in The Hundred before?
A: Yes, including Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim.
Q6. Is this happening in other leagues?
A: Pakistan participation has been limited in SA20, ILT20 and MLC — all IPL-linked.
🏁 Final Verdict – A Test of Franchise Cricket’s Integrity
This isn’t about one auction.
It’s about precedent.
If franchise ownership networks quietly influence player access based on broader ecosystem politics, global T20 cricket becomes less meritocratic.
The Hundred stands at a crossroads.
Will it maintain independent selection integrity?
Or will investment alignment quietly dictate player opportunities?
Cricket fans deserve transparency.
Players deserve equal opportunity.
And franchise leagues must decide what they truly represent:
Competition.
Or consolidation.
The auction next month won’t just shape squads.
It will reveal where power truly lies in modern cricket.