Around 50 Pakistan players who represented in The Hundred 2025 Draft were completely overlooked by all eight franchises on March 13.
With the changes in franchise ownership, including IPL-affiliated investors being pointed on this issue, there could be other reasons for the teams not picking Pakistan players for the upcoming season.
Pakistan’s declined performance in ICC tournaments suffering group stage exits in three consecutive ICC tournaments – the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy may have played a significant role in their omission in The Hundred draft.
Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, Pakistan players have been absent from the Indian Premier League, and their participation in T20 leagues featuring IPL-owned franchises has decreased significantly.
South Africa’s SA20 league where all the teams are owned by IPL franchise owners, has seen no Pakistani representation in its three editions.
Big Pakistan stars like Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah who were drafted at 120,000 each has been overlooked in The Hundred 2025 draft. Salman Ali Agha and raising start Saim Ayub has failed to find franchise in the draft.
Several Pakistan players who featured in The Hundred, including Naseem Shah (Birmingham Phoenix), Mohammad Amir (Oval Invincibles), Haris Rauf (Welsh Fire) and Usama Mir (Manchester Originals) did not find franchise in The Hundred 2025 Draft.
With many suggested that the sale of equity to IPL affiliated owners, have contributed to an ‘Unofficial ban’ on pakistan players, ECB chief executive Richard Gould has denied the case.
Around four out of teams Oval Invincibles (Reliance Industries), Manchester Originals (RPSG Group), Northers Superchargers (Sun Group) and Southern Brave (GMR Group) has IPL affiliated owners.
The tournament is set to run in parallel to Pakistan’s White-ball commitment. The Men in Greens are set to play against West Indies in July and August, followed T20I series against Afghanistan.
The white ball series will serve as crucial preparations for the Asia Cup in September, where Pakistan will aim to deliver a huge comeback. The availability concerns have been a significant factor for franchises, with teams preferring who can commite for the entire duration of tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been stringent with No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players joining overseas T20 leagues.
Last year, Naseem Shah was denied an NOC for The Hundred, while Haris Rauf was prevented from playing BBL in 2024.
