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Harry Brook Slams Potential Pakistan Player Exclusion from The Hundred

England's white-ball captain Harry Brook has publicly criticized reports suggesting Pakistan players will be ignored by Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred auction. Brook praised Pakistani cricketers' talent and crowd-pulling ability, stating it would be a shame to exclude them. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has also called on the ECB to intervene, arguing such exclusion should not be allowed in an inclusive sport. While Pakistani male players have featured in past editions, no female player from Pakistan has yet participated in the tournament.

Key Points: Brook: 'Shame' if Pakistan Players Excluded from The Hundred

  • Brook supports Pakistan players
  • Indian-owned franchises may exclude them
  • Vaughan calls for ECB action
  • Pakistani players have participated before
2 min read

'A shame if Pakistan players excluded from The Hundred,' says Harry Brook

England captain Harry Brook criticizes reports that Indian-owned franchises may ignore Pakistani players in The Hundred auction, calling it a shame.

"It would be a shame not to see some of the Pakistan players in there - Harry Brook"

Pallekele, Feb 21

England white ball captain Harry Brook broke his silence on reports claiming that Pakistan players are set to be ignored by Indian owned franchises in the Hundred auction, which will be held on March 12.

Speaking ahead of England's first T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s match against the co-hosts, Sri Lanka, at the Pallekele International Stadium, Brook came out in support of the Pakistan players and felt that it would be shameful if they were not picked for the tournament. The 27-year-old also lauded Pakistan's players for their talent and their ability to pull crowds.

"Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years. I think there's about 50, 60 players in the auction, and it would be a shame not to see some of them in there," Brook said in the pre-match press conference.

"There's some amazing cricketers, and they bring some great crowds as well. It would be a shame not to see some of the Pakistan players in there and make this tournament and competition even better," he added.

Sixty-three male and four female cricketers have reportedly registered for the Hundred auction. The list includes almost all members of Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad.

There are four teams in The Hundred with some form of Indian investment: MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Southern Brave, and SunRisers Leeds. According to a BBC report, player agents have been informed that Pakistan players' participation will be restricted to teams with no Indian investment.

Earlier, former England captain Michael Vaughan requested the England and Wales Cricket Board on Friday to step in after reports emerged that the Indian Premier League owned franchises may exclude Pakistan players from the upcoming auction.

Vaughan took to X, formerly Twitter, to post, "The ECB needs to act fast on this. They own the league, and this should not be allowed to happen. The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen," he wrote.

Pakistani cricketers have played in The Hundred before without issues. Imad Wasim played for Northern Superchargers last season, which has now been renamed SunRisers Leeds. Other notable Pakistani players like Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf have also participated in earlier editions. However, no Pakistani woman cricketer has taken part in the tournament yet.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As a cricket fan, I want to see the best players compete, regardless of where they're from. Pakistani players like Shaheen Afridi are box-office! 🏏 Excluding them makes the tournament poorer. Sports and politics should not mix.
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Rohit P
Respectfully, I think Michael Vaughan is being simplistic. The ECB can't force private Indian-owned franchises to pick players they don't want. It's their investment. Pakistani players have other teams in The Hundred they can join. The show will go on.
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Ananya R
This is sad. Cricket is our common language in the subcontinent. Pakistani players have entertained us for years. If they are being excluded due to off-field tensions, it's a loss for the spirit of the game. Hope better sense prevails.
D
David E
Interesting dynamic. The report says it's only teams with Indian investment. So it's not a blanket ban. Other franchises are free to pick them. This seems more about specific business sensitivities than the ECB or the league itself being exclusionary.
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Shreya B
Feel for the players. They train hard and just want to play good cricket. Their past participation without issues shows they are professionals. Hope the auction is fair and based purely on cricketing merit. 🤞

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