The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and all eight franchises of The Hundred have announced that selection policies for the upcoming season will prioritise cricketing performance, player availability, and team requirements during the upcoming auction. This public affirmation comes on the heels of rumours that Pakistan players will be overlooked during the first-ever Hundred auction.
BBC Sport reported earlier this month that the four franchises with links to the IPL could potentially overlook Pakistan players at the auction. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds are the sides that are fully or partly owned by IPL teams. Amidst these rumours, the ECB issued a statement emphasising its commitment to inclusivity, explicitly stating that players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality. The governing body has reiterated that all players will be assessed only on their sporting merits and availability, regardless of their country of origin.
“As the governing body responsible for running the tournament, the ECB is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination, and has regulations in place to take robust action to tackle any such conduct. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality.”
“All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”
“This reflects the broader commitment of the ECB to make cricket the most inclusive sport, creating opportunities, breaking down barriers and ensuring that players from all backgrounds have a fair and equal pathway to the top of the game.”
“We want The Hundred to feature the very best talent from across the world, and will continue working proactively to ensure that the competition is a benchmark for inclusivity,” read the statement.
HOW DID THE HUNDRED FRANCHISES RESPOND?
Following the statement, MI London revealed that they will be picking players based on the criteria laid out by the ECB and will remain welcoming to all players from different national backgrounds.
“MI London is committed to ensuring The Hundred is a competition that it is inclusive, welcoming and open to all. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality. Alongside the other seven teams, we commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team,” read the statement.
The first-ever Hundred auction is set to take place on March 11 and 12.
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