4 Indian-Owned Teams in The Hundred Reportedly Won’t Pick Pakistani Players

Pakistani cricketers could be excluded from participation in yet another franchise league, as four teams in the Hundred are planning not to consider them during the 2026 player auction. These four sides are actually owned by franchises from the Indian Premier League.

The much-awaited 2026 season of the Hundred, England’s premier 100-ball competition, is set to witness a transformation, a result of the ECB’s decision to allow private investment into the league. It is now being shaped by IPL-style ownership and market dynamics. Unlike the five previous seasons, the 2026 season will witness a live player auction, with teams set to bid on a pool of nearly 1,000 registered players.

'The Hundred' Updated Team Names :

New :
– Sunrisers Leeds
– MI London
– Manchester Super Giants

Old :
– Northern Superchargers
– Oval Invincibles
– Manchester Originals

3 Successful IPL Franchises have invested in 'The Hundred' 👏🏻

What's your take 🤔pic.twitter.com/nw8nkwbvIU

— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) January 12, 2026

Private investment has also led to a jump in team budgets and player salaries. Coming to ownership, four Hundred franchises have been rebranded after being acquired by IPL team owners, including MI London (previously Oval Invincibles) owned by Reliance Industries; Manchester Super Giants (formerly Originals) owned by RPSG Groups; Sunrisers Leeds (previously Northern Superchargers) owned by Sun TV Network; and Southern Brave owned by GMR Group. 

Pakistani cricketers could, however, potentially miss out. The entry of IPL owners into the fray might keep them out, given that Indian franchises have not engaged with Pakistani players since 2009 due to strained bilateral relations.

A BBC report highlighted that an ECB official had reportedly informed an agent about the fate of players from Pakistan. The agent, representing these players, was told that only the four non-IPL owned teams might be interested in signing them.

A senior official from the ECB indicated to an agent that interest in his Pakistan players would be limited to sides not linked to the IPL.

NEW: Pakistan cricketers are not being considered by the 4 Indian-owned teams in The Hundred, sources have told BBC Sport. We’ve seen messages in which an ECB official indicated to an agent that interest in his Pakistan players was limited to non-IPL sides.…

— Tom Grundy (@tgrundy1) February 19, 2026

Another agent, as quoted by the BCC, described the situation as an ‘unwritten rule’ preventing Pakistani players from being selected by IPL-owned teams in leagues globally, with a similar practice followed even in SA20, where no Pakistani player has featured since its 2023 inauguration. Other leagues, like the MLC, ILT20, and CPL, have also seen a similar trend. It, however, significantly contrasts with ECB chief Richard Gould’s earlier statement, which had suggested that players from all nations would be chosen.

The fate of Pakistani players in the Hundred now hangs by a thread, with Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim being the two players who featured in the 2025 season before new investors took control. Others like Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, and Haris Rauf had appeared in earlier seasons.

The Hundred auction build-up: How do the teams stack up following retention and direct signings?

For the 2026 season of the Hundred, the players’ recruitment system has undergone a drastic change, and it now features a three-tier model. Each franchise was permitted to make up to four pre-auction signings or retentions, which has led to all eight franchises securing major acquisitions.

For the men’s competition, defending champions Oval Invincibles (rebranded as MI London) did not retain captain Sam Billings. MI London went with all-rounder Will Jacks, Sam Curran and Rashid Khan, while signing Nicholas Pooran. Other overseas stars confirmed for the season include Dewald Brevis (London Spirit), Marcus Stoinis (Southern Brave), Mitchell Marsh (Sunrisers Leeds), Tim David (Trent Rockets).

The men’s auction is set to take place on March 12, 2026, with players like Joe Root and Adil Rashid, among players available for selection. Coming to the women’s competition, high-profile players like Beth Mooney, Nadine de Klerk and Amy Jones will be available. Ellyse Perry (Birmingham), Smriti Mandhana (Manchester), Laura Wolvaardt (Southern Brave), Nat Sciver-Brunt (Trent) are the top pre-signed players. 

For the 2026 Hundred auction, players will be organized into three separate tiers. The ‘Hero’ category will be auctioned first, followed by players in the ‘Ranked’ category, and finally, the list of players in the ‘Nominated’ category.

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• “Dumbest Decision in History!” – Fans Lash Out at ‘Incompetent’ ICC for Pre-Seeding the Super Eight Teams in T20 World Cup
• Australia Could Miss LA Olympics Following Disastrous T20 World Cup Campaign

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