Pakistan players’ absence in the Hundred would be a ‘shame’, says Brook

England white-ball team captain Harry Brook thinks it will be a shame if Pakistan players are not signed for the upcoming Hundred season.

No Pakistanis in IPL-linked teams

There has been a report suggesting that IPL-linked teams in the Hundred might not bid for Pakistan players in the auction, set to take place on March 11 and 12. Due to worsening political ties between Pakistan and India, no Pakistani has played in the IPL since 2008.

While the ECB has subtly dismissed the rumours amid backlash from fans and pundits, the reports might hold true because IPL-linked franchises, as a tacit agreement, do not rope in Pakistan players in other leagues as well.

While Brook said he has his focus on his team’s Super Eights fixtures, he hopes there are Pakistan players in the tournament to attract bigger fan bases.

“Our main focus now is what’s coming up in the T20 World Cup. It’s not really any of our business, to be honest,” Brook said in a recent interview.

“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 to not see some of them in there,” he remarked.

“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 the tournament and competition even better,” he added.

The Hundred teams privatised

Partial and full stakes for the Hundred teams were put up for grabs last year by the England and Wales Cricket Board, which is how IPL owners entered the league. Four teams including MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave are the Hundred offshoots of IPL franchises Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrises Hyderabad, and Delhi Capitals, respectively.

ALSO READ:

Here’s what Pakistan need to to qualify after the washout against New Zealand- IPL