The 2025 draft for England’s The Hundred League was held at Lord’s on Wednesday, but in a surprising turn of events, not a single Pakistani cricketer—male or female—was selected by any franchise.
A total of 50 Pakistani players had entered the draft, including five women cricketers, but none managed to secure a spot in the tournament. Among the women’s contingent, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yasira Aamir, Iram Javed, and Javeria Rauf remained unselected. Similarly, despite several high-profile names being available in the men’s category, all 45 Pakistani players went unsold, even though foreign player slots were still open in multiple teams.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah had the highest reserve price among Pakistani players at £120,000. Meanwhile, experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim and young batter Saim Ayub entered the draft with a base price of £78,500. Other notable names such as Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain were listed at £63,000, whereas several players, including Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali, and Imad Butt, had registered without a set reserve price.
This season’s edition of The Hundred has undergone significant changes, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowing external investment for the first time. As a result, all eight franchises have secured investors, four of whom are owners of Indian Premier League (IPL) teams.
Although Pakistani players have been banned from the IPL since 2008, reports suggest that their exclusion from The Hundred was not influenced by IPL ownership. Instead, concerns over their availability for the entire season played a major role in the decision. The tournament is set to take place from August 5 to August 31, a period during which Pakistan is scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is against the West Indies from July 31 to August 12. Additionally, a potential white-ball series against Bangladesh in July and August could further complicate their participation.
Last month, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould dismissed speculations about any political motive behind the snub, assuring that Pakistani players were not restricted from The Hundred due to IPL influence. However, despite this clarification, the complete absence of Pakistani cricketers in the draft remains a talking point in the cricketing world.