Sixty-three male and 4 feminine gamers from Pakistan have signed up for The Hundred public sale.
In messages seen by the BBC, a senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) indicated to an agent that curiosity in his Pakistan gamers would be restricted to sides not linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Four of the eight franchises – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – are actually no less than part-owned by firms that management IPL groups.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan stated on Friday that the ECB “need to act fast” as a result of omitting gamers primarily based on their nationality “should not be allowed to happen”.
Players from Pakistan haven’t featured within the IPL since 2009 due to diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and India, and a refusal to signal gamers in The Hundred would comply with the development elsewhere within the franchise world.
No Pakistan gamers have featured in South Africa’s SA20, which launched in 2023. All six of its groups are owned by IPL franchise teams – together with the 4 now concerned in The Hundred.
In the United Arab Emirates’ ILT20, franchises managed by the house owners of MI London and Southern Brave haven’t signed a Pakistan participant throughout 4 seasons, however have recruited cricketers from 15 different nationalities.
By distinction, American-owned ILT20 facet Desert Vipers have signed eight Pakistan gamers over the identical interval.
Brook, who may have one other busy schedule this summer season as a multi-format England participant, stated he has already informed Sunrisers he is not going to proceed as captain.
“I am staying away from that stuff and will let the head coach and whoever is in charge control that,” he stated.
In response to the BBC’s preliminary story, an ECB spokesperson stated: “The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that.
“Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered for The Hundred public sale, with illustration on the longlist of over 50 gamers respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.”
Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire are the 4 Hundred groups not owned by IPL franchises.
