Here’s why no Pakistan cricketer was picked in The Hundred 2025 draft

A total of 50 Pakistan cricketers, including five women, went unpicked in The Hundred 2025 player draft, which took place at Lord’s on Wednesday. 

While it was not entirely unexpected that the five women players — Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf — went unselected due to the limited overseas slots and the competitive nature of the draft, it was more surprising that none of the 45 male Pakistani cricketers were chosen, even though several overseas spots remained available across various teams.

Among the male players, Naseem Shah was the highest-priced Pakistani player, with a reserve price of £120,000. Experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim and rising star Saim Ayub set their reserve prices at £78,500. Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain were listed with a reserve price of £63,000. In contrast, several players, including Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali, and Ammad Butt, did not specify a reserve price.

This season of The Hundred has seen a significant shift in the tournament’s dynamics, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowing external investments into the franchises. As a result, all eight franchises are now backed by investors, with four of them owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) owners.

The IPL has had a complicated relationship with Pakistani players, as they have not been allowed to participate in the league since 2008. However, the reason behind the Pakistan players’ absence in the 2025 draft is not related to IPL influence but rather concerns over their uncertain availability for the full duration of the tournament, which is scheduled from August 5 to 31.

Pakistan’s national team is set to play a three-match ODI and T20I series against West Indies from July 31 to August 12, overlapping with The Hundred's window. Additionally, there are discussions about a potential white-ball series against Bangladesh in the same period, further complicating the availability of Pakistani players.

It’s important to note that ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould had previously assured that Pakistani cricketers would not face any restrictions in The Hundred due to IPL influence. 

“We are aware of the challenges Pakistani players face in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould had stated last month.

Despite this, the timing of international commitments appears to have played a significant role in the absence of Pakistani players in the draft.