KEY POINTS
- Michael Vaughan leads criticism over fears Indian-owned franchises will exclude Pakistani players.
- 62 Pakistani players are registered for The Hundred league.
- Harry Brook calls potential exclusion a “shame,” emphasising Pakistani cricketers bring quality and attract large crowds to English cricket.
- Concerns raised that an informal ban could eventually target British Pakistani players.
ISLAMABAD: The England and Wales Cricket Board is facing mounting pressure to act decisively amid growing concerns that new Indian franchise owners in The Hundred will refuse to select Pakistani players, potentially undermining the competition’s founding principle of inclusivity.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has led the chorus of criticism, warning that excluding Pakistani cricketers would send a damaging message to the large Pakistan-origin population in England and betray the ECB’s stated aim of making cricket the country’s most inclusive sport.
“The Hundred was set up to be an inclusive competition designed to appeal to a different audience, which is why the England and Wales Cricket Board has to act quickly if reports are true that new Indian owners will not select Pakistani players,” Vaughan wrote.
The ECB need to act fast on this .. they own the league and this should not be allowed to happen .. the most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen .. https://t.co/IYysTSIYHt
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 20, 2026
Rich history erased?
Vaughan highlighted the decades-long contribution of Pakistani cricketers to the English game, naming legends who have graced county and club cricket with distinction.
“For decades, Pakistani players have played a crucial role in county and club cricket in England: Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis graced our game with distinction. I am a huge fan of the Hundred, but it has to appeal to all supporters for it to have any credibility. This has the potential to turn away the large Pakistan population that lives in England and loves cricket. What message does that send about our game?”
The former captain pointed to ECB chairman Richard Thompson’s vision, warning that an informal ban would make ‘a mockery’ of efforts to build the most inclusive sport in the country.
🏏 'Fundamentally, if India can play Pakistan in a World Cup match then surely Indian owners can pick Pakistan players in a foreign league'
Read Michael Vaughan's column below ⤵️https://t.co/httRI2S8Fv pic.twitter.com/icR20wSr2H
— Telegraph Cricket (@TeleCricket) February 20, 2026
Empty words or genuine commitment?
With half of the eight Hundred teams now at least partially owned by Indian Premier League franchises, a competition that has not included Pakistani players since 2009, fears are mounting that the same pattern will repeat in England.
The ECB issued a statement when the story first broke, insisting: “The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that. Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered for the Hundred auction, with representation on the longlist of over 50 players respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.”
But Vaughan dismissed the response as ‘wishy-washy’ and ‘empty words,’ insisting the proof will come during the March 11-12 auction when 62 Pakistani players are up for selection.
“The statement said nothing and they cannot be allowed to hide behind it,” Vaughan said. “A couple of token bids for Pakistan players will not tell us very much if they are not signed. The next few weeks are going to be very important for our game.”
ALSO READ: Will Controversial IPL Shadow Ban Keep Pakistan Cricketers Out of The Hundred?
The real power brokers
Vaughan posed a fundamental question that cuts to the heart of cricket’s changing power dynamics.
“Fundamentally, if India can play Pakistan in a World Cup match then surely Indian owners can pick Pakistan players in a foreign league. I can understand it is too sensitive in the IPL but this has exported the problem to other countries.”
He warned that if no Pakistan players are signed by Indian-owned franchises, it will reveal who truly controls The Hundred.
“If this informal ban on Pakistan players happens then we know who really runs the competition and it is not the governing body.”
Vaughan contrasted the BCCI’s firm control over IPL franchises, having suspended several and kicked out others, with doubts about whether the ECB would show similar strength.
“Would the ECB be strong enough to throw out a franchise in the future? This makes me doubt that.”
Brook speaks out
England white-ball captain Harry Brook has added his voice to those calling for Pakistani representation in The Hundred, describing their potential exclusion as a significant loss for the competition.
Speaking on the eve of England’s Super Eights match against Sri Lanka, Brook said: “What I would say is Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years. I think there’s about 50 or 60 players in the auction and it would be a shame to not see some of them in there. There’s some amazing cricketers and they bring some great crowds as well.”
Brook, who has signed a bumper £465,000 contract to represent Sunrisers Leeds, emphasized the value Pakistani players bring to English cricket.
“Pakistan players make the tournament and competition even better,” he added.
“Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years and have some awesome players, some of the best players in the world.
It would be a shame not to see some of them in The Hundred.”
~ Harry Brook pic.twitter.com/FY14bTkhV8
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) February 21, 2026
British Pakistani players at risk?
The concerns extend beyond overseas Pakistani cricketers to British-born players of Pakistani heritage. Vaughan raised the alarm about what precedent this could set for players like Rehan Ahmed, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood, who have previously faced visa issues when traveling to India with the England team.
“You also wonder where this will end. What about British Pakistan players such as Rehan Ahmed, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood who have all had issues getting visas to play for England in India. Will the Indian-owned Hundred franchises put a red line through their names, too?”
He urged vigilance, warning: “Over the course of a few summers we will know whether there is an issue or not for British-born Pakistan cricketers. That must not be allowed to happen.”
Global pattern emerges
The concerns are not without precedent. One Pakistani agent told Telegraph Sport: “It’s a given that Pakistan players will be excluded from teams with Indian ownership. They have been doing the same all around the world. Now that they are in the Hundred, I don’t see it being any different.”
All six teams in South Africa’s SA20 competition are owned by IPL franchise groups, and in four seasons, not a single Pakistani player has featured. Similar patterns have emerged in leagues across the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
There is no merit-based reason for Pakistani players to be excluded from any franchise T20 competition. But especially The Hundred. If you have any doubt, watch this video. And when you're done…call it what it really is: systemic isolation.https://t.co/LjBgXQwNpR
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) February 20, 2026
Genuine obstacles or political exclusion?
Vaughan acknowledged legitimate reasons why some Pakistani players might not feature, including international commitments and PCB restrictions.
“Pakistan are playing in the West Indies during the Hundred so availability is an issue. The Pakistan board also has a habit of blocking its players from playing in overseas leagues so that is a problem too and both are genuine reasons for not wanting to sign its players.”
But he drew a firm red line against political exclusion.
“But if they are not signed for political reasons we cannot allow that to happen in the UK because it will eventually affect our own players with Pakistani heritage. It will also damage Pakistan cricket as well and we cannot be a part of that.”
The weeks ahead
All eyes now turn to the March 11-12 auction, which will determine whether Pakistani players find places in The Hundred or whether fears of an informal ban become reality.
Vaughan demanded transparency and accountability from ECB leadership.
“If no Pakistan players are signed by the Indian-owned franchises then we have our answer. I would then like to hear a proper explanation from a senior ECB figure. We need to know if the owners indicated to the ECB they would not consider Pakistan players.”
The outcome will not only shape this year’s competition but could set a precedent determining the future of Pakistani representation in English cricket for years to come.
