The absence of Pakistani players from The Hundred 2025 draft has drawn significant attention, marking the first time since the league’s inception in 2021 that none were selected. Despite 50 Pakistani cricketers, including five women, registering for the March 13 draft, not a single player was picked. This exclusion has sparked questions, particularly in light of Indian investors acquiring stakes in four of the league’s eight franchises.
Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Pakistani players have been barred from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and have had minimal involvement in T20 leagues owned by IPL franchises. The SA20 league, fully owned by IPL franchise operators, has likewise seen no Pakistani representation in its three editions.
No Pakistan’s player in The Hundred 2025
High-profile Pakistani cricketers such as Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah—valued at £120,000 each—went unsold, as did newly appointed T20I captain Salman Ali Agha. In 2023, six Pakistani players participated in The Hundred, including Naseem Shah (Birmingham Phoenix) and Mohammad Amir (Oval Invincibles).
Some attribute this snub to the Indian-backed ownership of teams, despite assurances from ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould that it wouldn’t influence selections.
However, Pakistan’s poor performances in recent ICC tournaments may also have played a role, following group-stage exits in three successive events—the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup, and the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy.
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Delhi Capitals record unwarranted hat-trick of WPL Final losses as Mumbai Indians lift 2nd trophy
Top Stories
