Players from the Pakistan side have not featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009, following the diplomatic relationships between the two countries. Heading into the 2026 season of The Hundred, four of the eight franchises- Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds- are part of the IPL teams, which will be a concern for the Pakistan players.

The senior official of the BBC from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) indicated to an agent that the Pakistan players’ availability would be limited to the sides lined with the IPL. The situation has been addressed as an unwritten rule across the T20 leagues with Indian investment.

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“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 auction, with representation on the longlist of over 50 players respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, and West Indies.” The ECB spokesperson expressed.

Reports claim Pakistan players’ absence from The Hundred 2026

No Pakistan players have featured in South Africa’s SA20, which launched in 2023, as all six of the six franchises have now been involved in The Hundred. In the UAE’s International League (ILT20), franchises controlled by the MI London and Southern Brave have not signed a Pakistan player across four seasons.

“Every player should have the right to fair and equal opportunity. While employers have autonomy in recruitment, those decisions should always align with principles of fairness, equality, and respect.” It was revealed by Tom Moffat, who is the chief Executive of the World Cricketers’ Association, that the global players’ auction.

The American-owned ILT20 side, Desert Vipers, has signed eight Pakistan players over the same period. In January this year, the three-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), released the Bangladesh bowler, Mustafizur Rahman, after being instructed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to the political tensions between India and Bangladesh in recent times.