The player draft for The Hundred 2025 took place on March 12, and surprisingly, no Pakistan players were selected. A total of 45 Pakistani cricketers had registered for the men’s draft, while five had entered the women’s category. Given the limited overseas slots and strong competition, it was not entirely unexpected that the women’s players—Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf—were not picked. However, the complete exclusion of Pakistan’s male players was somewhat unexpected, especially as a few overseas slots remained available.
Impact of IPL Investment and Possible ‘Soft Ban’
A significant change in The Hundred this season is the introduction of external investment into franchises, with four of the eight teams now partly owned by IPL stakeholders. Historically, the IPL has not included Pakistan players since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, though some former cricketers like Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja have taken up coaching and commentary roles. A similar trend has been observed in South Africa’s SA20 league, where all teams are IPL-owned, and no Pakistan players have been included.
Despite ECB chairman Richard Gould’s assurance that Pakistani players’ participation would not be affected, concerns of a ‘soft’ ban resurfaced after none were picked in the draft. In the past, Pakistan has had minimal representation in the league, with Usama Mir (13 matches), Haris Rauf (12 matches), Imad Wasim (10), Mohammad Amir (6), Shaheen Afridi (6), and a few others playing limited games. The recent exclusion of all Pakistani players raises questions about whether IPL involvement influenced the selection process.
Scheduling Conflicts with Pakistan’s International Series
Another key reason for Pakistani players being overlooked is the scheduling clash between The Hundred 2025 and Pakistan’s international commitments. While the tournament is set to run from August 5 to August 31, Pakistan is scheduled to tour the West Indies for ODIs and T20Is from late July to mid-August. Following that, they have a T20I series at home against Afghanistan before heading into the Asia Cup in September. Additionally, discussions are ongoing with Bangladesh for another white-ball series in the same window.
Franchises have been cautious about signing players with uncertain availability, particularly after previous last-minute withdrawals. Last year, Shaheen Afridi withdrew from The Hundred citing family commitments, only to later seek permission to play in Canada’s Global T20 league—a move ultimately blocked by the PCB. Given these factors, teams opted to avoid picking Pakistan players, prioritizing those who could commit for the entire season.
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