“It Would Be a Shame” – Harry Brook Speaks Out on Pakistan Players’ The Hundred Uncertainty
England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook has said it would be “a shame” if Pakistan cricketers are excluded from the upcoming season of The Hundred, amid growing speculation over franchise selections.
Brook made the remarks on Saturday (February 21) ahead of England’s Super 8 clash against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, distancing himself from the controversy but underlining Pakistan’s value to global cricket.
Political Undertones Around Franchise Decisions
Reports suggest that Indian-owned Hundred franchises — including Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds — may avoid signing Pakistani players at the auction. The hesitation is reportedly linked to concerns about political backlash in India, given the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Brook, however, made it clear that such matters lie beyond the players’ control.
“Our main focus now is what’s coming up in the T20 World Cup. It’s not really any of our business, to be honest,” Brook said.
He then added a pointed remark:
“Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years. I think there’s about 50-60 players in the auction, and it would be a shame to not see some of them in there.”
Strong Pakistan Presence in Auction Pool
A total of 67 Pakistani male and female cricketers have registered for The Hundred auction. Several high-profile stars — including Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir — have featured in previous editions of the tournament.
Their presence has historically added both competitive quality and significant fan engagement to the league.
A Wider Trend in Franchise Cricket
The situation mirrors developments in other franchise leagues with Indian ownership links.
- Pakistani players have not participated in the Indian Premier League since 2009 following the 26/11 attacks.
- No Pakistani cricketer has featured in SA20, where all franchises are owned by IPL stakeholders.
- Similarly, Indian-owned teams in the International League T20 have not signed Pakistani players across four seasons.
Brook emphasized the cricketing aspect over politics:
“There’s some amazing cricketers, and they bring great crowds as well. So it would be a shame to not see some of the Pakistan players in there and make the tournament even better.”
What’s Next?
The upcoming season of The Hundred is scheduled from July 21 to August 16, with the player auction set for March 11 and 12. Whether Pakistani players find takers among the eight franchises will be closely watched — not just for cricketing reasons, but also for what it signals about the intersection of geopolitics and global franchise leagues.
For now, Brook and England remain focused on their World Cup campaign, but his comments have reignited debate over inclusivity and competitive balance in modern T20 tournaments.
