Michael Vaughan, England’s celebrated ex-skipper, has ignited a firestorm ahead of The Hundred’s first-ever player auction. Pakistani cricketers, numbering 63 including Usman Tariq and Shahin Afridi, have signed up, but IPL franchise owners controlling four teams appear set to blacklist them.
These Indian-backed outfits—acquired in a major deal last fall—hold sway over MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds. Industry whispers confirm zero interest in Pakistani bids, prompting Vaughan’s fierce rebuke.
Addressing the ECB directly, Vaughan invoked chairman Richard Thompson’s vision for inclusive cricket. He cautioned that shunning players due to Indo-Pak politics would undermine ECB’s authority, implying external powers dictate the league’s direction.
‘This isn’t just about a few players; it’s about The Hundred’s soul,’ Vaughan stated. He insisted cricket’s purity demands judgments based solely on skill, free from national rivalries that have long plagued the sport.
The auction marks a new chapter for The Hundred, launched in 2021 to revitalize white-ball cricket in England. Yet this shadow threatens its growth. Vaughan reminisced about past eras when borders meant little on the field, urging a return to those principles.
Stakeholders watch tensely. Can the ECB enforce neutrality, or will commercial ties prevail? Vaughan’s intervention spotlights the tightrope between business and fairness, with implications rippling across global T20 leagues.