Earlier, there were reports on Pakistan players’ omission from The Hundred 2026 auction scheduled on the 11th and 12th of March. This is because four Indian owned franchises are against the signing of Pakistanis due to the strained political relationship between the neighbouring nations.
Meanwhile, Harry Brook, the England men’s team captain of the white-ball format, remarked that it could be a disgrace to the English franchise cricket league if Pakistan players are sidelined from the 6th edition of The Hundred.
Harry Brook’s Team in The Hundred 2026
Sunrisers Leeds has signed Harry Brook for £465,000, ranking him as the tournament’s most expensive player. The franchise formerly known as the Northern Superchargers has been acquired by the Sun Group that owns teams in other T20 leagues such as:
| Franchise | T20 League |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Indian Premier League (IPL) |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) | SA20 |
The Yorkshire-born batter was earlier the skipper of the Superchargers. But, he was clear with his stance not to continue with the leadership role for the forthcoming season. This is because the 27-year-old would become busy with his multi-format commitments for England this summer. Here is what Brook said:
“No! I don’t want to take the responsibility again. I wish to stay away from that role. Let the head coach and the in-charge take control to decide who should be the next skipper,” Harry explained.
How Many Pakistani Cricketers Signed for The Hundred 2026 Auction?
A total of 67 Pakistanis registered for The Hundred 2026 auction. Out of which, 63 of them include male participants, and the remaining four include the female counterparts.
It includes high-profile names in men’s cricket, such as:
- Shadab Khan
- Saim Ayub
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Usman Tariq
- Haris Rauf
Notably, none of the Pakistani women cricketers has ever featured in the past five editions of The Hundred since 2020.
Brook Hailed Pakistan as the Greatest Cricketing Nation
Ahead of England’s Super 8 fixture against Sri Lanka(on February 22) in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Harry Brook voiced his opinion against the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from The Hundred:
“See! As of now, I am fully focussed to play the T20 World Cup and guiding my team to glory. Anything related to The Hundred is above my control. The choice of cricketers and other matters is upto them to decide whatever they want.
We need to accept that there are world-class and quality players in Pakistan, and they have been the greatest cricket nation for several years.
However, it would be shameful to miss out the Pakistani players in The Hundred, who make the tournament much better,” Brook said.
Are IPL-Linked Teams Cautious Not to Include Pakistanis?
YES! It is a proven fact that the IPL-linked teams in The Hundred are cautious about including Pakistani players.
To explain in other terms, the IPL owners have avoided signing cricketers from Pakistan in any of the global franchise T20 leagues.
For the unversed, Pakistan cricketers featured in the inaugural IPL season in 2008. Following the Mumbai terror attacks in the same year, the Pakistanis were snubbed from participating in the league since 2009.
IPL-controlled teams prioritized the same pattern of sidelining Pakistani players in foreign T20 leagues, such as:
- SA20
- International League (ILT20)
- The Hundred
Four Teams in The Hundred Teams Under IPL Ownership
Here are those four out of eight teams in The Hundred 2026 that are owned by IPL franchise groups:
| Team | Ownership | Percentage of Ownership Share | Valuation |
| Manchester Super Giants (Formerly known as Manchester Originals) | RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group | 70% | €115.71 million |
| Sunrisers Leeds (Formerly known as Northern Superchargers) | Sun Group | 100% | €100 million |
| MI London (Formerly known as Oval Invincibles) | Reliance Industries | 49% | €122.45 million |
| Southern Brave | GMR Group | 49% | €97.96 million |
Former England Captain’s Message to ECB
Michael Vaughan, the former captain of the England men’s cricket team, suggested that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) take appropriate action. He urged that The Hundred should be open for men and women cricketers all over the world.
Vaughan’s post on X is indeed a clear message to the ECB to prevent allowing geopolitical tensions influence England’s franchise cricket league:
“See! The time has come for the ECB to react spontaneously. They own the league, and this shouldn’t happen at all. The most alluring sport in the nation should be open to all,” Vaughan wrote on his X handle.
Currently, the four non-linked IPL teams are keen to acquire Pakistani players in The Hundred, which includes:
- London Spirit
- Birmingham Phoenix
- Welsh Fire
- Trent Rockets
Also Read: RCB Sale 2026: Global Giants Target IPL Franchise Ownership! From US Billionaires to Indian Celebs
Final Opinion
Former England players, current veteran stars, and the experts have suggested ECB take an appropriate decision to ensure the integrity and sportsmanship of the sport.
As of now, the situation is similar to the previous year, where Pakistani cricketers went unsold in the 2025 edition draft. With the player auction dates approaching, it remains to be seen if the sixth season of the league will witness any big changes or not.
