LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), alongside all eight franchises competing in The Hundred, has reiterated its dedication to keeping the tournament inclusive, open and accessible to everyone.
The Hundred was launched with a clear objective: to attract new audiences, broaden cricket’s appeal and ensure individuals — irrespective of ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or background — feel welcomed within the sport.
This founding ethos has remained central to the competition and continues to guide its operations.
As the body overseeing the tournament, the ECB has underlined its zero-tolerance stance on discrimination, supported by comprehensive regulations to address any such behaviour.
The board has stressed that no player should be excluded on the basis of nationality.
Wider goal
All eight franchises have pledged that selection will be determined solely by cricketing merit, availability and the tactical needs of each squad.
The position aligns with the ECB’s wider goal of making cricket the most inclusive sport in England, by removing obstacles, creating opportunities and providing fair pathways to the elite level for players of all backgrounds.
“We want The Hundred to feature the very best talent from across the world, and will continue working proactively to ensure that the competition is a benchmark for inclusivity,” the board stated.
The statement comes after reports in the English press claimed that certain franchises — some now partly owned by investors associated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) — were likely to overlook Pakistan players in next month’s draft.
A prominent English outlet reported that a senior ECB figure allegedly told an agent that franchises connected to IPL ownership were unlikely to show significant interest in Pakistan players.
IPL-linked investments in cricket
The report also cited another agent who described this as an “unwritten rule” in leagues involving IPL-linked investments.
Last year, four franchises — Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds — were partially purchased by IPL investors after the ECB sold stakes, generating close to £500 million in private funding.
These claims appear at odds with assurances previously given by ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould, who maintained that Pakistani players would not encounter restrictions in The Hundred due to IPL involvement.
“We are aware of the challenges Pakistani players face in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould had stated, reaffirming the ECB’s commitment to inclusivity.
