‘The Hundred is Inclusive', says ECB amid reports of Pakistan players snub

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) released a statement reiterating that its brainchild, The Hundred, is an “inclusive” tournament with no exclusion based on “ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality." 

Inclusive, welcoming, and open to all

The statement comes amid reports emerging from English media revealing that new Hundred team owners, who have links with the IPL, are considering leaving out Pakistan players.

“The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight of The Hundred team franchises reaffirm their commitment to ensuring The Hundred continues to be a competition that is inclusive, welcoming and open to all,” the ECB said in a statement.

“The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or otherwise, can feel they belong in our sport. This has been a guiding principle from the outset and remains at the heart of everything we do.”

Absence of Pakistan players from IPL

Due to worsening political ties, players from Pakistan are not selected to play in the IPL or any IPL-linked franchises across the world, including the Caribbean Premier League, International League T20, and SA20. With IPL owners now in the fray of The Hundred as well, following the privatisation of teams last year, the trend was understood to be extending to the hundred-ball tournament, with the auction set to take place on March 11-12. 

However, this follows backlash from fans and pundits, along with reports of the ECB writing to teams warning against any intentional discriminatory snubbing of a player.

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