Growing influence of IPL franchises in international leagues seen as possible reason
London, March 13: The player draft for the 2025 edition of The Hundred took place on March 12, but it raised eyebrows as no cricketers from Bangladesh or Pakistan were selected by any of the eight franchises.
Despite a strong lineup of talent from both nations, including seasoned internationals and emerging stars, none found a place in the upcoming season of England’s popular 100-ball competition.
For Bangladesh, this marks yet another year without representation in The Hundred, as no player from the country has ever featured in the tournament since its inception.
A total of 28 Bangladeshi players had registered for the draft, with veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan leading the list at a base price of £120,000. However, his recent suspension from bowling may have played a role in his exclusion. Young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, priced at £63,000, also went unsold, along with other notable names such as Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. An additional 20 Bangladeshi cricketers had entered the draft without a base price, yet none managed to secure a contract.Similarly, Pakistan witnessed a complete snub, despite 45 men and five women from the country putting their names forward. Pace sensation Naseem Shah, who entered the draft with a reserve price of £120,000, was among the biggest names overlooked.
All-rounder Imad Wasim and left-handed power-hitter Saim Ayub had set their base price at £78,500, while seasoned campaigners like Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain were listed at £63,000. Mohammad Amir and Azam Khan, priced at £52,000, also remained unsold.
The absence of Pakistani players has led to speculation regarding the reasons behind their exclusion. One key factor could be scheduling conflicts, as Pakistan is set to tour the West Indies for a limited-overs series from late July to mid-August, overlapping with The Hundred, which runs from August 5 to 31. A potential T20I series against Afghanistan and a clash with Bangladesh around the same period may have further deterred franchises from picking Pakistani players.
Additionally, the growing influence of IPL franchises in international leagues is seen as another possible reason. Several teams in The Hundred now have new owners, including IPL investors, which could have affected selection dynamics. Since Pakistani players have been barred from participating in the IPL since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, their exclusion from other franchise leagues linked to IPL teams is often a talking point.
Meanwhile, international stars such as David Warner, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, David Miller, and Marcus Stoinis secured lucrative deals in the draft. As teams finalize their squads ahead of the tournament’s start in August, the omission of Bangladeshi and Pakistani players remains a major talking point in cricketing circles. (Agencies)