The Hundred, England’s thrilling 100-ball cricket tournament, is set for its fifth season, featuring eight men’s and women’s teams battling it out in a fast-paced format. Known for its high-profile international signings, the tournament has become a key fixture in the global cricket calendar.
However, this year’s player draft at Lord’s saw a surprising outcome—none of the 50 registered Pakistani players, including stars like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, were picked. The primary reason? Uncertain availability.
With Pakistan’s scheduled series against the West Indies from July 31 to August 12 and a possible white-ball series against Bangladesh, franchises were hesitant to invest in players who might miss crucial matches. Despite external investments, including from IPL franchise owners, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould had assured that Pakistani players would not face selection bias.
Yet, with overseas slots in high demand and a packed international schedule, the uncertainty proved costly for Pakistani hopefuls, leaving them out of The Hundred 2025.
