“It would be a shame” - Harry Brook on Pakistan players’ exclusion from The Hundred Auction

England skipper Harry Brook has stated that it would be a shame if Pakistan players were not allowed to take part in The Hundred’s auction, which is scheduled to be held next month. Notably, four out of eight teams in The Hundred now have stakes owned by IPL franchise owners.

According to a fresh report published on the BCCI, Pakistani players could likely be overlooked in The Hundred auction process by teams, as Indian investors are unlikely to bid for any Pakistani player.

Notably, Brook was retained by the Sunrisers Leeds, formerly known as Northern Superchargers, as the league's highest-paid player at £465,000. While he led the Superchargers franchise for two seasons, he had revealed that he would not be in contention for a captaincy role in the upcoming season.

"My main focus at the minute is to play the T20 World Cup," Brook said.

"That part of The Hundred is above me, and whatever they decided to do is up to them. Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years and have some awesome players, some of the best players in the world. It would be a shame not to see some of them in The Hundred," he added.

It’s important to note that The Hundred franchises part-owned by IPL owners are Manchester Super Giants, Southern Brave, MI London, and Sunrisers Leeds. The ownership came into effect on October 1, 2025.

Former England captain and commentator Michael Vaughan requested the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to ensure the inclusion of Pakistan players, adding that their absence would contradict the tournament’s ethos of inclusivity.

“I am a huge fan of the Hundred, but it has to appeal to all supporters for it to have any credibility. This has the potential to turn away the large Pakistan population that lives in England and loves cricket. What message does that send about our game? If true, it makes a mockery of the stated aim of Richard Thompson, the ECB chairman, to make English cricket the most inclusive sport in the country,” Vaughan wrote in his Telegraph column.

"The ECB need to act fast on this. They own the league, and this should not be allowed to happen. The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen," he wrote.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!