The Hundred Coaches Deny Receiving Instructions to Avoid Signing Pakistani Players

Coaches of 'The Hundred' teams, which have investment from the Indian Premier League (IPL), have stated that they have not received any instructions to refrain from signing Pakistani players.

Last February, BBC Sport reported that four 'The Hundred' teams linked to the IPL would not sign Pakistani players, mirroring the ban they face in India.

Following that report, all eight 'The Hundred' teams and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a joint statement saying that "players must not be excluded based on nationality."

As expected, none of the eight teams selected the two Pakistani players who participated in Wednesday's women's 'The Hundred' auction.

Seventeen Pakistani players, including fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, and spinner Usman Tariq, are participating in the men's auction scheduled for Thursday.

'The Hundred' team Trent Rockets Leeds is part of the Sunrisers' global network, which also has teams in India and South Africa.

All six teams in South Africa's SA20 league are associated with IPL owners, and none of them have fielded Pakistani players to date.

Head coach of Sunrisers Leeds (women's) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (men's), Eddie Billing, stated that he was never told not to sign Pakistani players.

"No, I was not told anything like that," he told BBC Sport. "I believe some players will certainly attract interest tomorrow."

When asked if IPL-affiliated teams would show interest in Pakistani players, he replied, "I think so, but I don't know. I can only guess. I haven't heard anything about not bidding on them."

Like Sunrisers Leeds, Southern Brave is another 'The Hundred' team fully owned by an IPL franchise. It was bought by partial owners of the Delhi Capitals.

Jonathan Batty, head coach of the Brave women's team, said, "The only thing I was told is: sign the best players available to make this team as good as possible."

"We have received no other instructions besides this, and we have complete freedom in who we sign. This is the case for the women's team."

There might also be cricket-related reasons behind the decision not to sign Pakistani players.

During 'The Hundred' this year, Pakistan has a Test series against the West Indies, which could affect player availability.