No Pakistani Players Selected in The Hundred 2025 Draft: Possible Reasons Revealed

In a surprising turn of events, no Pakistani players were selected by any franchise in the 2025 edition of the British cricket league, *The Hundred*. This includes both male and female cricketers, leaving many to wonder about the possible reasons behind this decision.

The draft, which took place on Wednesday at Lord’s, saw 50 Pakistani cricketers, including five women, vying for a spot in the competition. However, none of the Pakistani players were chosen by any franchise.

Among the women, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yasir Ameer, Eram Javed, and Javeria Rauf were the Pakistani players who failed to attract any bids. This was particularly surprising given the increasing prominence of women’s cricket.

In the men’s category, 45 Pakistani cricketers, including some high-profile names, were available for selection. Yet, none of them were picked, despite several teams having open slots for foreign players.

The most notable of these players was Naseem Shah, whose reserve price was set at £120,000. Experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim and young batter Saeem Ayub had a reserve price of £78,500. Other prominent names such as Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain had a reserve price of £63,000. Several other players, including Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali, and Imad Butt, were registered without any specific price tag.

This year’s *The Hundred* has witnessed significant changes, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowed foreign investments in the tournament. As a result, all eight franchises now have investors, including four from the Indian Premier League (IPL) owners.

It is widely known that since 2008, Pakistani players have been banned from participating in the IPL, leading some to believe that the influence of IPL owners could be a reason behind the exclusion of Pakistani players from *The Hundred*. However, experts suggest that the main reason for the non-selection could be the uncertainty surrounding the availability of Pakistani cricketers during the tournament.

The *Hundred* tournament is set to run from August 5 to August 31, coinciding with Pakistan’s cricket series against the West Indies, scheduled between July 31 and August 12. Additionally, Pakistan is likely to play a white-ball series against Bangladesh in July and August, further affecting the availability of players for the league.

Despite assurances from ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould last month that Pakistani players would not face any restrictions due to IPL’s influence, the issue of player availability remains a major concern. Gould had stated that the board was aware of the challenges Pakistani players face but confirmed that the IPL’s influence would not affect their participation in *The Hundred*.

It remains to be seen whether these factors will impact the future participation of Pakistani cricketers in the tournament.