The off-the-field IND vs PAK political dispute enters a new battleground. In the UK, a new political storm appears to be brewing between two Asian arch-rivals, India & Pakistan. The Hundred, the UK’s equivalent of the IPL, becomes the latest flashpoint between the two ideologically opposed countries.
According to recent reports, India-based Hundred franchises are set to exclude Pakistan national players from the upcoming Hundred auction. At present, the Hundred features eight franchises, four of which have links to Indian owners. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds are all partially owned by the Indian stakeholders from the IPL.
The Hundred auction is scheduled to take place on March 11 and March 12. However, the situation on the ground is rather different. As the Hundred franchises look to brush aside the Pakistani players from the impending auction, Manchester Super Giants deputy chair James Sheridan made it crystal clear that no discussion of such a sort ever took place. He rather insisted that the team is more focused on picking up the best lot.
“The only conversations we’ve had is to pick the two best squads to give us the best possible chance of winning the two competitions.”
James Sheridan (Manchester Super Giants deputy chair)
What’s Driving The India Owned Hundred Franchises To Snub PAK Players?
The sole reason behind this entire controversy can be linked to the politics of the two countries. Both India and Pakistan have long had differences on various unresolved political issues. Naturally, the national cricketing bodies of the respective countries often vie for dominance in the greater cricket world.
The needless IND vs PAK off-the-field ruckus originates as the BCCI looks to tighten its grip over the cricketing universe, in an effort to distance Pakistan entirely from aspect of life. And that involves cricket as well.
An unverified agent, tasked with overseeing the auction of the Pakistan players, told the Telegraph that their players are usually in demand. But political backlash from the Indian counterparts makes this an impossible proposition for the Hundred franchises to feature any PAK-born players.
“It’s a given, they have been doing the same all around the world. Now that they are in the Hundred, I don’t see any difference. I’ve personally reached out to franchises in ILT [ILT20], MLC, SA20 and now the Hundred. They would love to have Pakistanis but due to political pressure back in India, they will never risk going against the government. They will never admit in writing.”
Undisclosed Agent Handling Pak Players In Hundred Auction
Following the infamous 26/11 terror attacks in 2008, no Pakistan-born player has ever featured in the IPL. With BCCI’s overwhelming influence and financial might, India now looks to extend the ban further into other global leagues.
If we look around, we have become far too familiar with this pattern already. Franchises in the MLC and SA20 have shown reluctance in featuring PAK-born cricketers. The snub is more visible in the SA20, a league that has at least 4 franchises partially owned by the IPL franchise owners. No player as of March 2026 has ever been picked in the SA20 auction.
