ECB warns Indian-owned teams over ignoring Pakistan players before The Hundred 2026 auction

The England and Wales Cricket Board has moved quickly to handle rising worries about how Pakistan cricketers are treated before The Hundred 2026 auction by sending a formal notice to all eight franchises regarding their duty to follow anti-discrimination laws.

ECB under pressure to ensure equal opportunity in The Hundred

The intervention follows reports which indicate four Indian-owned teams might select players from Pakistan who registered for the auction but decided not to choose any Pakistani athletes. The situation has created widespread disputes among cricketers because Pakistani athletes have not played in the IPL for an extended period. Many people believe this pattern will continue to affect other international basketball leagues which now have IPL-connected team owners.

Richard Gould the CEO of the ECB explained that The Hundred tournament follows its core values of fairness and inclusivity which require equal evaluation of players from all countries. The ECB maintains control over tournament regulations because it sold private franchise stakes yet it still has power to investigate all confirmed cases of discrimination.

The former England captain Michael Vaughan who led the team as captain for six years became the most vocal supporter of strict measures to safeguard the competition's integrity against political interference which he believed to harm sports opportunities. 

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The auction pool for this year includes Pakistan because several Pakistani players need to join the English tournament. 

Spotlight on owners to prove inclusivity in selections

The Hundred competition saw only Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim represent Pakistan last season because people believed this number did not accurately reflect the country's available T20 players. 

The ECB has conveyed a clear directive to franchises which are preparing their auction shortlists that selection should occur based on players' cricketing abilities. The upcoming auction will show whether the warning results in better player diversity or equal opportunities for all teams although the focus remains on franchise owners who attract global attention.