The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and all eight franchises of The Hundred broke their silence and have jointly announced that player selections for the upcoming season will be made strictly on cricketing merit, availability and team requirements and no discrimination based on nationality will be made.
The announcement comes after various media reports said that Pakistan players will not be picked by teams backed by IPL-owned franchises for next month’s auction on March 11 and 12. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds are the teams that are fully or partly owned by IPL franchises.
In the wake of such reports, ECB issued a statement stating its commitment to inclusivity and also emphasising that players would not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality.
“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 to take robust action to tackle any such conduct. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality.”
“All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”
“This reflects the broader commitment of the ECB to make cricket the most inclusive sport, creating opportunities, breaking down barriers and ensuring that players from all backgrounds have a fair and equal pathway to the top of the game.”
“We want The Hundred to feature the very best talent from across the world, and will continue working proactively to ensure that the competition is a benchmark for inclusivity,” read the statement.
After the statement was released, MI London, which is backed by an IPL-owned franchise, clarified that their player selections will strictly follow the guidelines set by the ECB. The franchise also stressed that it remains open and inclusive, welcoming players from all nationalities.
“MI London is committed to ensuring The Hundred is a competition that it is inclusive, welcoming and open to all. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality. Alongside the other seven teams, we commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team,” the franchise’s statement read.
Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Tariq are some of the big names among 63 Pakistan players who have reportedly registered for The Hundred auction. This year’s The Hundred is scheduled to begin from July 21 to August 16.
