'Soft Ban' On Pakistani Players In The Hundred? Here's Why None Was Signed In 2025 Draft

'Soft Ban' On Pakistani Players In The Hundred? Here's Why None Was Signed In 2025 Draft

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 13, 2025, 15:13 IST

Pakistani players were not picked in the 2025 draft for The Hundred, raising concerns of a 'soft ban' after IPL investments.

No Pakistani player was selected in The Hundred 2025 draft (Image: ICC)

Forty-five Pakistan players had registered for the 2025 draft for the Men’s Hundred while five did so for the Women’s Hundred. However, none of them were picked by any of the eight franchises. Though the country’s women’s cricketers have not been able to find teams before as well, this is the first time it has happened to men’s cricketers in the tournament’s four-year-long journey.

This has raised concerns regarding a possible ‘soft ban’ on Pakistani cricketers from the tournament after it received investments from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises before the 2025 season. Pakistani players have not featured in the IPL since the 2008 terror attacks.

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Now, Oval Invincibles (Mumbai Indians), Manchester Originals (Lucknow Super Giants), Northern Superchargers (SunRisers Hyderabad) and Southern Brave (Delhi Capitals) are partially or completely owned by IPL franchises. This is similar to the South African competition, the SA20, where no Pakistani player has played in three years.

However, according to Wisden, the reason behind no Pakistani men’s players getting picked in this season’s draft is their uncertain availability.

Pakistan will likely play a series of three ODIs and three T20Is in the West Indies from the last week of July to mid-August, which will clash with The Hundred’s window in the English summer. The Men in Green might play another three-match T20I series at home against Afghanistan before the Asia Cup starts in September.

The report said that, Pakistan could also organize a white-ball series for a window in July and August against Bangladesh.

ECB chair Richard Gould has previously asserted that the participation of Pakistan players in the Hundred would not be affected due to the change in ownership.

“We’re aware of that in other regions, but that won’t be happening here," Gould said last month.

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There have also been concerns in Pakistan, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not providing no-objection certificates to players. For example, last season, pacer Shaheen Afridi had decided to pull out of the tournament due to personal reasons but later, the PCB also denied him the NoC.

Indian men’s cricketers didn’t put their names in the draft, though that’s in line with the BCCI’s stance. Deepti Sharma will be the only Indian woman in the competition, representing London Spirit.

First Published: March 13, 2025, 15:13 IST

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