Related Articles
In a recent development, four out of the eight teams in The Hundred have been acquired by IPL franchise owners, raising concerns over the future participation of Pakistani players in the league. Given the political tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistani players have been barred from participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has clarified that such restrictions will not be imposed in The Hundred.
Table of content
ECB Addresses Concerns Over Pakistani Players’ Participation
ECB’s Chief Executive Richard Gould assured that the involvement of IPL owners in The Hundred will not impact the participation of Pakistani players. He dismissed any speculation that IPL-linked teams would prevent Pakistani cricketers from playing in the tournament.
“We’re aware of that in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould told ESPNCricinfo, referring to the absence of Pakistani players in other IPL-backed leagues like SA20, ILT20, and MLC.
While the BCCI does not officially dictate player selections in foreign leagues, the absence of Pakistani players in IPL-owned teams in SA20 and ILT20 has raised questions about their future in The Hundred. However, the ECB remains firm on keeping the tournament open to talent from all countries, including Pakistan.
Will Indian Players Play in The Hundred?
Gould also addressed the possibility of Indian male players participating in The Hundred, considering the involvement of IPL franchises. While expressing interest in seeing Indian players feature in the tournament, he admitted that BCCI’s stance currently prevents this from happening.
“In terms of availability of Indian players, that is not priced in with our plans. The BCCI’s position has been very clear. At some point, we’d love to see Indian players come and play in England,” Gould said.
Indian players are only allowed to play in international bilateral series, county cricket, and first-class/50-over tournaments abroad. They are prohibited from playing in foreign T20 leagues unless they retire from Indian domestic and IPL cricket.
IPL Teams Invest in The Hundred
The ECB has entered exclusive agreements with eight investors to secure private funding for The Hundred, with IPL team owners making up half of these new investors.
The following four IPL franchises have acquired stakes in The Hundred teams:
🏏 RPSG Group (Lucknow Super Giants) → Manchester Originals
🏏 Sun TV Network (Sunrisers Hyderabad) → Northern Superchargers
🏏 Reliance Industries (Mumbai Indians) → Oval Invincibles
🏏 GMR Group (Delhi Capitals) → Southern Brave
This strategic investment is expected to provide financial stability to The Hundred and open doors to the lucrative Indian market. However, the ECB is committed to ensuring fair player participation regardless of ownership influences.
With the Pakistani players’ participation confirmed and IPL franchises investing in The Hundred, the league is set for a new era of global cricketing partnerships.
