ECB Push Back on Pakistan ‘Shadow Ban’ Claims Ahead of Hundred Auctions
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has rejected suggestions that Pakistani players could face a “shadow ban” at next month’s Hundred player auctions amid growing scrutiny over the influence of Indian Premier League (IPL) investors in the competition.
More than 950 players have registered for the upcoming Hundred auctions, including over 50 from Pakistan. High-profile names such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub and Usman Tariq are part of the longlist. However, reports have raised concerns that franchises with IPL ownership ties may decline to bid for Pakistani players.
According to a BBC report, a “senior official” at the ECB allegedly indicated in messages to an agent that teams owned by IPL groups would not pursue Pakistani cricketers. The ECB said it had not been shown the messages and pushed back strongly against the claims.
Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, has previously insisted that the involvement of Pakistani players would not be affected by the league’s recent privatisation, which saw four franchises become fully or partly owned by IPL groups.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan called on the board to address the issue swiftly. “The ECB need to act fast on this,” Vaughan wrote on social media. “They own the league and this should not be allowed to happen.”
IPL Links Under Scrutiny
Four IPL franchises are now involved in the Hundred: Mumbai Indians (operating as MI London), Lucknow Super Giants (Manchester Super Giants), Sunrisers Hyderabad (Sunrisers Leeds) and Delhi Capitals (Southern Brave).
No active Pakistan international has played in the IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and only a limited number have featured in teams owned by IPL investors globally.
Franchises connected to Delhi Capitals co-owners GMR Group have previously signed Pakistani players for other ventures, including Imad Wasim and Zaman Khan at Seattle Orcas and Shan Masood at Hampshire. However, the other IPL-linked Hundred teams have not signed active Pakistan internationals in their global operations.
Geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have remained strained, with last year’s T20 World Cup group-stage fixture between the sides nearly cancelled amid threats of a boycott from Pakistan’s government.
Strong Pakistan Representation in Draft Pool
Despite the uncertainty, Pakistan remains strongly represented in the draft. Notable absentees include Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, though their availability would have been restricted due to Pakistan’s Test commitments against West Indies in August.
Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman — whose contract with Kolkata Knight Riders was cancelled last month at the BCCI’s request — has also entered the draft.
Historically, only nine Pakistani players have featured in the Hundred’s first five seasons. Franchises have often cited scheduling clashes and late withdrawals — including those of Afridi and Naseem Shah in 2024 — as reasons for caution.
An ECB spokesperson reiterated the competition’s inclusive stance: “The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that.”
Opportunity for Non-IPL Teams
Teams without IPL investors could potentially benefit if rival franchises opt not to pursue Pakistani talent. The Desert Vipers, an American-owned franchise, selected four Pakistani players en route to winning this year’s ILT20 final and were the only team in that tournament to field Pakistani cricketers.
Birmingham Phoenix performance director James Thomas indicated his franchise would remain open-minded. “Birmingham is a hugely diverse city,” he said. “We want our teams to be representative of the city and the region as well.”
High-Profile Names Registered
The longlist also includes several leading England players such as Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid and Joe Root in the men’s draft, alongside Tammy Beaumont, Dani Gibson and Linsey Smith in the women’s competition. Ben Stokes has not registered as he manages his workload around Test captaincy duties.
Among overseas players in the women’s auction are Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney and Deepti Sharma, while the men’s draft includes Trent Boult, Aiden Markram and Sunil Narine. Many of Australia’s Test players are unavailable due to a home series against Bangladesh.
The auctions will take place in London on March 11 (women’s) and March 12 (men’s) and will be live-streamed. Teams can field four overseas players per match — up from three in previous seasons — and salary caps for 2026 have risen to £2.05 million for men’s teams and £880,000 for women’s teams.
With heightened political sensitivities and new private ownership structures reshaping the Hundred, next month’s auctions could offer a significant test of the league’s commitment to global inclusivity.