IPL franchise owners hoping to invest in the Hundred are set to be warned that discriminating against Pakistani players would be unacceptable and devalue the tournament. It is estimated that seven of the 15 to 20 bidders still involved in the sale process for the eight Hundred teams, which should be completed next year, already run IPL sides. Owing to political tensions since the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008, Pakistan players have long been excluded from the IPL.
It is understood that some MCC members have expressed concerns about the possibility of London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s, being sold to an IPL franchise that may not commit to selecting Pakistan players. Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants have all been mooted as potential buyers.
IPL franchises now own almost 20 teams across the globe playing in T20 tournaments in South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and the Caribbean, but while nine Pakistan internationals were involved in the most recent editions of these four competitions, only one player has identified who belongs to teams run by IPL owners.
Imad Wasim, 35, who was born in Swansea, played 130 times for Pakistan in one-day internationals and T20s between 2015 and June this year. This year, he represented Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 in the UAE and Seattle Orcas in the Major League Cricket tournament in the United States. The Abu Dhabi team are owned by Red Chillies Entertainment, who also run the Kolkata Knight Riders. GMR, who bought Seattle, are co-owners of Delhi Capitals and have recently acquired Hampshire and the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.
Some of those involved in overseeing the sale of the Hundred teams expect that conversations about the treatment of Pakistan players will be broached before deals are completed. The ECB is understood to be prepared to warn franchise owners that discrimination would be unacceptable - although it is unclear how much power the governing body would have to prevent it.
Four Pakistan men’s international players took part in this year’s Hundred. Wasim played for Trent Rockets, while Haris Rauf featured at Welsh Fire and Usama Mir at Manchester Originals. Mohammad Amir played once as a short term replacement for the Oval Invincibles.
Relations between India and Pakistan are particularly fraught after India’s refusal to play in Pakistan at the Champions Trophy in February, even though Pakistan have long been designated as tournament hosts. A media report in India this weekend suggested the ICC would hold an emergency meeting to discuss the impasse.
