Brookes Condemns Pakistan Exclusion from The Hundred

The upcoming The Hundred 2026 domestic cricket tournament in England is set to hold its player draft on 11 and 12 March, with 63 male and 4 female Pakistani cricketers registered for selection. However, recent reports from the BBC indicate that four Indian-owned franchises have decided not to sign any Pakistani players, a move that has drawn concern from England’s limited-overs captain Harry Brook.

The 26-year-old Yorkshire batsman, who recently signed with the Indian-owned franchise Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers), will become the highest-paid player in the tournament with a contract worth £465,000. Although Brook captained the Superchargers over the past two seasons, he has confirmed that he will not assume captaincy this year.

Speaking ahead of England’s Super Eight match against Sri Lanka, Brook stated,
“My immediate focus is the T20 World Cup. The Hundred is beyond my control; the franchises will do as they see fit.”

On the issue of Pakistani players being excluded, he added,
“Pakistan has long been a cricketing powerhouse, with some of the world’s finest players. Not seeing any of them in The Hundred would be very disappointing.”

According to BBC sources, a senior ECB official has indicated to players’ agents that franchises not affiliated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) may be more inclined to consider Pakistani cricketers.

The eight teams in the tournament and their ownership structures are summarised below:

The exclusion of Pakistani players has prompted former England captain Michael Vaughan to call on the ECB to take prompt action.

The roots of this exclusion date back to 2009, when political tensions between India and Pakistan prevented Pakistani players from participating in the IPL. This pattern has continued across other franchise leagues. For instance, in South Africa’s SA20 League, which began in 2023, no Pakistani players were included, despite six teams being IPL-affiliated. Similarly, in the UAE IL T20, Indian-owned franchises have fielded players from 15 different countries over four seasons but have never signed a Pakistani cricketer.

Brook’s comments highlight the ongoing intersection of politics and sport, emphasising the need for inclusivity in franchise cricket. The Hundred, intended as a platform for global talent, risks losing diversity and competitive balance if Pakistani players continue to be excluded.