Sahibzada Farhan says Pakistan players are aware of franchise interest but accepts their participation in The Hundred is ultimately “not in our hands”.
More than 60 Pakistan cricketers have registered for next month’s inaugural Hundred auction. However, BBC Sport reported last week that players from Pakistan are not being considered by the four Indian Premier League-owned sides.
Franchise decisions under scrutiny
Pakistan players do not feature in the IPL because of ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, and that pattern appears to be mirrored at IPL-linked franchises abroad.
MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave are all now partly or fully owned by IPL teams following the England and Wales Cricket Board’s sale of stakes last year. Trent Rockets, London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix and Welsh Fire remain independent of IPL ownership.
The ECB has written to all eight franchises reminding them of their responsibilities around discrimination.
Farhan hopeful despite uncertainty
Farhan, 29, is currently the leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup and struck a century against Namibia in the group stage. He has entered the auction with a £50,000 base price.
“It’s not like people are not interested in us,” he said. “Whoever wants to pick us can. We are ready to play.”
Thirteen members of Pakistan’s 15-man World Cup squad have registered, including Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf at the top £100,000 base bracket. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam are the only absentees.
With Pakistan due to face England in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, Farhan remains optimistic about opportunities in one of the world’s newest franchise competitions — even if selection decisions lie elsewhere.
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