The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and all eight franchises of The Hundred have announced that selection policies for the upcoming season will prioritize cricket performance, player availability and squad requirements during the upcoming auction. This public confirmation comes in the wake of rumors that Pakistani players will be overlooked during the first ever hundred auction.
BBC Sport reported earlier this month that four franchises with IPL links could potentially overlook Pakistani players at the auction. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds are sides that are wholly or partly owned by IPL teams. Amidst these rumours, the ECB issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to inclusivity and specifically stating that players must not be excluded based on their nationality. The governing body reiterated that all players will be judged solely on their sporting merit and availability, regardless of their country of origin.
“As the governing body responsible for running the tournament, the ECB is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination and has regulations in place that take decisive action to address such behaviour. Players must not be excluded on the basis of their nationality.”
“All eight teams commit that selection will be based solely on the cricketing performance, availability and needs of each team.”
“This reflects the ECB’s wider commitment to making cricket the most inclusive sport, creating opportunities, breaking down barriers and ensuring players from all backgrounds have a fair and equal path to the top of the game.”
“We want The Hundred to feature the best talent from around the world and will continue to proactively work to ensure the competition is a benchmark for inclusivity,” the statement said.
HOW DID A HUNDRED OF FRANCHISES RESPOND?
Following the announcement, MI London revealed that they will be selecting players based on criteria set by the ECB and will continue to welcome all players from different nationalities.
“MI London is committed to ensuring that The Hundred is a competition that is inclusive, welcoming and open to all. Players must not be excluded on the basis of their nationality. Along with the other seven teams, we commit that selection will be based solely on the cricketing performance, availability and needs of each team,” it said in a statement.
First ever hundred auction will take place on March 11 and 12.
– The end
Published on:
February 25, 2026
