All Pakistani Players Remain Unsold in The Hundred Draft

The much-anticipated The Hundred 2025 player draft is now in the books, but it turned into a nightmare for Pakistani players as no player from the country was selected for either the men’s or women’s teams. This marked a notable absence of Pakistan representation in the league, despite several well-known players registering for the draft.

Despite overseas slots being available across multiple teams, no Pakistani cricketer was picked, even though 45 Pakistani players had registered. This has raised eyebrows, particularly given the growing pool of talented players.

One of the main reasons for this absence could be linked to the international schedules, which have forced players to withdraw from their respective teams in the past. The Pakistan men’s national team is set to play a series of ODIs and T20Is against the West Indies in the last week of July and mid-August, which overlaps with the dates of The Hundred, running from August 5 to 31, 2025. Following this series, Pakistan will host Afghanistan for a three-match T20I series, and the Asia Cup is scheduled to start in the second week of September.

Franchises are typically reluctant to select players who may be unavailable due to international commitments. Last year, Shaheen Shah Afridi pulled out of The Hundred, citing personal reasons, but subsequently signed up for the Global T20 in Canada. His eventual NOC denial from the PCB caused further complications, highlighting concerns about player availability.

Another possible factor influencing the decision could be the increasing presence of Indian Premier League (IPL) investors in The Hundred. The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) has opened the door to outside investment, with several franchises now co-owned by IPL teams. This shift has raised concerns about a potential unofficial ban on Pakistani players in the league, given the IPL’s historically complicated relationship with Pakistani cricketers. While Richard Gould, the ECB Chair, assured that Pakistani players would not face exclusion, the lack of picks in the draft has fueled further speculation of a subtle ban.

While Pakistan has had some representation in past seasons, with players like Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Imad Wasim, and Mohammad Amir, the overall presence has been limited. In previous seasons, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan also made appearances, but the absence of Pakistani players in this year’s draft marks a concerning trend for the country’s involvement in The Hundred.

The snub wasn’t limited to the men’s side. Five female cricketers from Pakistan had registered for the draft, including Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf, with none having their names called.

While it’s unlikely that an official explanation for this snub will ever come, the reduced presence of Pakistani cricketers in The Hundred 2025 raises important questions about the future relationship between Pakistan and the rapidly growing franchise leagues.