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The player draft for The Hundred 2025 took place on March 12, but no Pakistani cricketers were selected in either the men’s or women’s categories. Despite several well-known Pakistani players registering for the draft, none managed to attract interest from franchises for the upcoming edition of the tournament.
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The Hundred 2025 Draft Overview
The Hundred 2025 will feature several high-profile players, with franchise sales reshaping the tournament during the off-season. A total of 270 domestic and 350 overseas players registered for the draft, but no Pakistani cricketers were picked. The tournament is set to take place from August 5 to August 31.
However, a second chance remains for players, as a few teams can still add two more players through a wildcard draft before the competition begins.
Pakistani Players Go Unsold
A total of 50 Pakistani players (5 women and 45 men) entered the draft, including top T20 stars such as:
- Shadab Khan
- Naseem Shah
- Mohammad Amir
- Saim Ayub
- Imad Wasim
- Azam Khan
Naseem Shah had the highest reserve price among them at £120,000, while Imad Wasim and Saim Ayub were listed at £78,500. Other notable names like Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain had a base price of £63,000, while Mohammad Amir and Azam Khan were available for £52,000.
Despite their impressive T20 records, none of the eight franchises opted for Pakistani players, marking the first time in the tournament’s history that no Pakistani male cricketer has been selected.
Why Were Pakistani Players Ignored?
There has been speculation about whether Pakistani players are facing a soft ban in The Hundred, especially considering their ongoing exclusion from other leagues like SA20 and IPL. However, reports suggest that the primary reason behind their omission is international commitments.
According to Wisden, Pakistan is scheduled to play ODIs and T20Is against the West Indies from late July to mid-August, overlapping with The Hundred. There is also a possibility of a T20I series against Afghanistan before the Asia Cup in September.
Franchises are typically hesitant to sign players with uncertain schedules, and this may have influenced their decisions in the draft.
Growing Concerns Over Franchise Influence
Another factor that may have played a role in Pakistani players going unsold is the increasing influence of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises in The Hundred. Four teams have IPL links:
- Oval Invincibles (Mumbai Indians-owned)
- Manchester Originals (Lucknow Super Giants)
- Northern Superchargers (SunRisers Hyderabad)
- Southern Brave (Delhi Capitals-owned)
With Pakistani players already banned from the IPL since 2008, their absence from The Hundred has raised further concerns over franchise politics in global cricket.
While the wildcard draft offers a final opportunity for some Pakistani players to be picked, the growing exclusion of Pakistan cricketers from major T20 leagues remains a worrying trend for fans and players alike.
