Ahead of the The Hundred 2026 Auction, reports emerged that the IPL-linked The Hundred franchises will unlikely to acquire the services of Pakistan players for the upcoming season of the tournament, which will take place in July. Four of the eight teams – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds – are fully or partially owned by the Indian groups that also own IPL sides, and according to a BBC report, these franchises are unlikely to bid for Pakistan cricketers for the 12-13 March auction.
However, this invited criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to intervene immediately to prevent discrimination, preserving cricket’s status as an inclusive sport in England. According to the reports, an ECB spokesperson dismissed the speculation of any formal restrictions, stating that The Hundred remains open to players from all nations and the selection decisions will ultimately be rested on the franchises.