New Delhi, 25 February (H.S.): Pakistani players will face no discrimination in the selection process for The Hundred tournament, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) clarified on Tuesday. This comes amid reports suggesting some India-owned franchises might overlook them due to political tensions.A BBC report claimed that four Indian-owned teams in the eight-team competition—Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds—were not considering Pakistani players for next month's auction.A total of 67 Pakistani players (63 men and 4 women) have registered for the upcoming season's draft.

In an official statement, the ECB affirmed, The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight Hundred franchises reiterate that this competition remains inclusive, welcoming, and open to all. All teams will select based solely on cricket performance, availability, and team needs.

Notably, Pakistani cricketers have been barred from the Indian Premier League since 2009 due to diplomatic tensions. With IPL owners now invested in global leagues, concerns arose that opportunities might narrow elsewhere too.The Hundred draft auction is scheduled for March 11 and 12 in London.

England's former captain Michael Vaughan was among those urging ECB intervention post-rumors. He stated, They own this league and shouldn't allow this. If cricket is to be the world's most inclusive sport, such situations are unacceptable.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar