In the 2025 draft for The Hundred cricket competition, none of the 50 Pakistani players—45 men and 5 women—who registered were selected by any franchise.
Several factors may have contributed to this outcome:
- Scheduling Conflicts: The tournament’s dates, from August 5 to August 31, overlap with Pakistan’s international commitments. According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, Pakistan is scheduled to play six white-ball matches in the West Indies from late July to mid-August, followed by a home T20I series against Afghanistan and a potential series against Bangladesh. This overlap likely made franchises hesitant to select players who might be unavailable for significant portions of the tournament.
- Franchise Ownership Dynamics: Recent changes in The Hundred’s structure have allowed external investments, with four of the eight franchises now partially owned by stakeholders from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Given the historical exclusion of Pakistani players from the IPL since 2008 due to political tensions, this new ownership dynamic may have influenced the selection process in The Hundred.
- Concerns Over Player Withdrawals: There have been instances where Pakistani players withdrew from tournaments at the last minute. For example, last season, Shaheen Shah Afridi pulled out of The Hundred, citing family reasons, but later sought an NOC to play in Canada’s Global T20, which the PCB denied. Such experiences might have made franchises cautious about potential uncertainties.
This development is particularly notable as it marks the first time no Pakistani players will participate in The Hundred, reflecting broader challenges they face in securing spots in international T20 leagues.
