Pallekele, February 23 Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan said on Monday that his country's players would be ignored by at least four Indian-owned franchises in the 'The Hundred' auction, but that the matter is beyond their control.
The Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance), Southern Brave (GMR), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun Group) are linked to team owners in the IPL, and reports in British media suggest that all four would avoid Pakistani players.
"Look, it's not up to us to decide who will pick us or not. That's not in our control. Whoever shows interest can pick us, and we are ready to play in that league," Farhan said ahead of his team's T20 World Cup Super Eight match against England here on Tuesday.
"And we don't want to play with people—the way you've spoken," Farhan said when asked about Pakistani players not being picked in franchise leagues around the world with strong IPL ties.
"I have a lot of hope, and every player wants to play in every league. The Hundred is one of the best leagues, so let's hope for the best," he added.
As many as 67 male and female cricketers from Pakistan, including almost the entire men's T20 World Cup squad, have registered for The Hundred.
Several Pakistani players, including Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf, have featured in the tournament.
The IPL has not featured Pakistani players since the 2008 terrorist attack.
No Pakistani cricketer has played in the SA20 since its launch in 2023, with all six teams owned by franchise groups linked to the IPL.
Similarly, in the UAE's ILT20, franchises controlled by the owners of MI London and Southern Brave have not signed a single Pakistani player across four seasons.
England captain Harry Brook had earlier said that it would be a shame if Pakistani cricketers did not take part in the competition.
"There are some amazing cricketers, and they bring great crowds as well. So it would be a shame not to see some of the Pakistani players participate and make the tournament and competition even better," Brook had said last week.
The upcoming season of The Hundred is scheduled from July 21 to August 16, while the players auction is slated for Match 11 and 12.
