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Sahibzada hopes Pakistan players will feature in The Hundred

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PALLEKELE: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan on Tuesday expressed cautious optimism about featuring in The Hundred amid reports that Indian-owned franchises of the contest may overlook Pakistan players in next month’s auction.

Speaking on the eve of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Super Eights clash against England in Pallekele, Sahibzada said that selection decisions were beyond the players’ control.

“It’s not in our hands to decide who will pick us or not,” the aggressive opener said. “Wherever we get a chance, whoever is interested can pick us and we are ready to play in that league.”

When asked about the broader trend of Pakistan players being excluded from franchises with strong Indian Premier League (IPL) links, Sahibzada responded pointedly: “And we are not interested to play with the people — the way you have spoken.”

ECB asks franchises to be wary of discrimination

The opener, however, said he remained hopeful of participating in the competition, describing The Hundred as one of the leading leagues in world cricket.

“Every player wants to play in every league … so hope for the best,” he added.

The issue has drawn attention following British media reports that four Indian-owned teams — Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds — are unlikely to consider Pakistan players in the player auction scheduled for March 11 and 12.

Pakistan cricketers have not featured in the IPL since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. A similar pattern has been observed in other IPL-linked competitions, including SA20 and the ILT20, where no Pakistan cricketers have appeared.

A total of 67 Pakistan players — 63 men and four women — have registered for the auction. The list includes prominent names such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir, all of whom have represented Pakistan in international cricket and appeared in previous editions of the tournament.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has written to all eight franchises, reminding them of their obligations under anti-discrimination policies. ECB chief executive Richard Gould previously said he expected “players from all nations” to be considered, noting that clear policies were in place.

While the ECB retains overall control of The Hundred despite the recent sale of stakes to private investors, it does not have the authority to compel teams to select specific players. Any proven discrimination could result in referral to the cricket regulator, ECB sanctions or other disciplinary action.

England white-ball captain Harry Brook recently termed any potential exclusion “a shame”.

“It would be a shame to not see some of the Pakistan players in there,” Brook said. “There’s some amazing cricketers and they bring some great crowds as well. So it would be a shame to not see some of the Pakistan players in there and make the tournament and competition even better.”

The upcoming season is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16, with teams expected to submit their initial lists of interest ahead of the auction.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2026



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‘Our fate is not in our hands’: Shaheen on T20 World Cup semi-final prospects following defeat by England – Sport

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After England beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash by two wickets on Tuesday, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged that his side’s fate was not in its hands anymore.

Pakistan have only one point from two Super Eight matches so now must win their final game and rely on other results going their way to have any hope of reaching the semi-finals.

“We know our fate is not in our hands,” he admitted, “But we need to beat Sri Lanka in our last match on Saturday and then hope other results go our way.”

“It’s not ideal, but it’s like this,” Shaheen said during a press conference after the match.

He also hailed Harry Brook’s century in the match against England as a “world-class knock”.

Brook reached his maiden T20 International hundred off 50 balls, with four sixes and 10 fours, as England went past their 165-run target with five balls to spare to win by two wickets.

Afridi jolted the England top order with a burst of three wickets before Brook played the ultimate captain’s innings to steer his side home.

“In my opinion this will be the best innings of his life,” Afridi told reporters. “It wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on but he took the game away from us.”

Promoted to number three after a morning conversation with England coach Brendon McCullum, Brook walked in after Afridi dismissed Phil Salt off the first ball of the innings.

Afridi then removed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell to leave England wobbling at 35-3 in the power play.

Brook stood firm, adding 45 for the fifth wicket with Sam Curran and 52 with Will Jacks for the sixth.

His century was the second fastest in T20 World Cup history, and the first ever by a team’s captain.

Only West Indies great Chris Gayle, against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup, reached three figures quicker. He took just 47 balls.

Afridi was clobbered for a six and a four as Brook raced through the “nervous nineties” in two balls, going from 90 to 100 before raising his bat.

The tall paceman bowled Brook with a yorker next ball, but did not celebrate wildly – instead he immediately went to congratulate the England captain in a superb show of cricket sportmanship.

“Brook played proper cricketing shots and he desreved a handshake, so I went to him and shook his hand in appreciation,” said Afridi.



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‘Our fate is not in our hands,’ says Shaheen Shah Afridi after Pakistan’s loss to England – Sport

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After England beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash by two wickets on Tuesday, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged that his side’s fate was not in its hands.

Pakistan have only one point from two Super Eight matches so now must win their final game and rely on other results going their way to have any hope of reaching the semi-finals.

“We know our fate is not in our hands,” he admitted, “But we need to beat Sri Lanka in our last match on Saturday and then hope other results go our way.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s like this,” Shaheen said during a press conference after the match.

He also hailed Harry Brook’s century in the match against England as a “world-class knock”.

Brook reached his maiden T20 International hundred off 50 balls, with four sixes and 10 fours, as England went past their 165-run target with five balls to spare to win by two wickets.

Afridi jolted the England top order with a burst of three wickets before Brook played the ultimate captain’s innings to steer his side home.

“In my opinion this will be the best innings of his life,” Afridi told reporters. “It wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on but he took the game away from us.”

Promoted to number three after a morning conversation with England coach Brendon McCullum, Brook walked in after Afridi dismissed Phil Salt off the first ball of the innings.

Afridi then removed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell to leave England wobbling at 35-3 in the power play.

Brook stood firm, adding 45 for the fifth wicket with Sam Curran and 52 with Will Jacks for the sixth.

His century was the second fastest in T20 World Cup history, and the first ever by a team’s captain.

Only West Indies great Chris Gayle, against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup, reached three figures quicker. He took just 47 balls.

Afridi was clobbered for a six and a four as Brook raced through the “nervous nineties” in two balls, going from 90 to 100 before raising his bat.

The tall paceman bowled Brook with a yorker next ball, but did not celebrate wildly – instead he immediately went to congratulate the England captain in a superb show of cricket sportmanship.

“Brook played proper cricketing shots and he desreved a handshake, so I went to him and shook his hand in appreciation,” said Afridi.



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Pakistan fans are left replaying one missed catch after England wins T20 match

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https://images.dawn.com/news/1194942/pakistan-fans-are-left-replaying-one-missed-catch-after-england-wins-t20-match



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