All Pakistani Players Remain Unsold in The Hundred 2025 Draft
For Pakistani cricket fans, the much anticipated draft for The Hundred 2025 has ended, but it was a huge letdown. Not a single Pakistani cricketer was chosen by any of the teams, even though 45 Pakistani men’s and women’s players registered for the competition. There has been a lot of discussion in the cricket community over Pakistan’s talent being completely overlooked in the draft.
A Startling Ignorance
Pakistani players were completely overlooked even though there were international spots available for several teams. Given the nation’s expanding talent pool and Pakistani players noteworthy success in other T20 and franchise leagues throughout the world, the absence is particularly startling.
With previous rounds seeing debuts by luminaries like Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, and Usama Mir, franchises have generally expressed interest in Pakistani players. Shaheen Shah Afridi had participated in the competition as well. But the total shutout this year has sparked questions about the league’s changing dynamics and Pakistan’s position within it.
Scheduling Conflicts and Player Availability
One of the key reasons being pointed to is Pakistan’s international schedule, which overlaps with The Hundred 2025 tournament dates August 5–31. Pakistan’s men team is expected to play ODI and T20I series against the West Indies during late July and mid August followed by a T20I series against Afghanistan. The Asia Cup is also slated for early September.
Such a packed calendar makes franchises hesitant to invest in players who may miss part or all of the tournament. Last year’s withdrawal of Shaheen Afridi, who initially signed for The Hundred but later pulled out and then joined the Global T20 Canada instead before being denied a No Objection Certificate by the PCB , further demonstrated the unpredictability of Pakistani player availability.
The IPL Ownership Factor
Another potential reason for the snub may be the increasing influence of Indian Premier League stakeholders in The Hundred. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recently allowed outside investments, and several IPL franchises now co-own teams in The Hundred.
This development has raised concerns about a quiet, unofficial exclusion of Pakistani players echoing their long-standing absence from the IPL itself. Although ECB CEO Richard Gould previously assured that Pakistani players would not be sidelined, the reality of the 2025 draft tells a different story.
Women Are Also Disregarded
The men were not the only ones who were disappointed. Additionally, five Pakistani women cricket players—Jaweria Rauf, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, Fatima Sana, and Aliya Riaz—were not sold. This exacerbates the mounting worry that Pakistani athletes are often being passed over, regardless of their skill or potential.
What Comes Next?
It’s unclear if this omission was motivated by politics or just practical considerations. Neither the ECB nor the team management have provided an official explanation. The lack of Pakistani representation in one of cricket’s fastest-growing formats raises questions about the future relationship between Pakistan and The Hundred 2025 Draft.
