LONDON: Pakistan players will not be discriminated against in selection for the Hundred, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) 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 Pakistan cricketers for next month’s auction.

A total of 67 Pakistan players — 63 men and four women — have submitted themselves for selection.

“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.

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

“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,” the statement added.

“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.”

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

With several IPL owners now owning teams in several different countries, opportunities for Pakistan cricketers to participate in various other leagues are in danger of being reduced further.Players will go under the hammer in London on March 11-12.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2026