Techinsider
Friday, March 14, 2025

The Hundred 2025: Reasons behind Pakistani players remaining unpicked revealed

Pakistan pacers Shaheen Afridi (left) and Haris Rauf reacts during The Hundred match between Welsh Fire and Oval Invincibles in London on August 6, 2023. — ECBUncertain availability for the entire tournament led to all Pakistani cricketers going unpicked at The Hundred 2025 player draft which was organised at the Lord’s on Wednesday.A total of 50 Pakistan cricketers, including five women, went unpicked at an upcoming tournament involving eight men’s and women’s teams each.
With limited overseas slots and a competitive selection process, it was not entirely surprising that Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed and Jaweria Rauf remained unpicked.However, it was more surprising that not even one out of 45 male Pakistani cricketers in the men’s draft were selected, despite several overseas slots still being available across the teams.

(Left to right) Pakistani cricketers Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Fatima Sana, and Aliya Riaz. — Reuters/AFP/PCB/Instagram/@aliyariaz_officialNaseem Shah led the pack as the highest-priced Pakistani player, with a reserve price of £120,000. Meanwhile, experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim and rising star Saim Ayub had set their reserve price at £78,500.Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain were listed with a reserve price of £63,000. In contrast, several others, including Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali and Ammad Butt, had registered without specifying a reserve price.This season of The Hundred has seen a shift in the tournament’s landscape, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowing external investments into franchises.As a result, all eight franchises have now received investments, with four of them backed by Indian Premier League (IPL) owners.The IPL has had a complicated relationship with Pakistani players. Since 2008, Pakistan players have not been allowed to participate in the league.However, Pakistani players going unpicked was not linked with the IPL influence and instead due to their uncertain availability for the entirety of the tournament, scheduled to run from August 5 to 31.Notably, Pakistan are set to play a three-match ODI and T20I series against West Indies from July 31 to August 12, which will clash with The Hundred’s window.The green shirts may also organise a white-ball series against Bangladesh in the July-August window, which would put their players’ availability for The Hundred in further doubt.Earlier, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould had assured last month that Pakistani cricketers would not face restrictions in The Hundred due to IPL influence.”We are aware of the challenges Pakistani players face in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould stated.

Hot this week

Michigan attempting to launch D-I women’s hockey

Mar 14, 2025, 12:54 PM ETUniversity of Michigan regent...

UK economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% in January in blow to Rachel Reeves

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive...

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding During Menopause Transition Linked To Fatigue, Study

New Delhi: Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding during menopause...

Alfonso Ribeiro Says He and Will Smith Created Magic on Fresh Prince

Alfonso Ribeiro credited his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air costar...

Topics

Related Articles

Popular Categories