Michael Vaughan Voices Concerns About Pakistani Stars in The Hundred

A recent media report claiming that Pakistan stars could possibly be overlooked by Indian-owned franchises in the upcoming auction of The Hundred has sparked concern among the passionate English cricket fans and ex-cricketers. Former England captain Michael Vaughan is one of the notable figures who has slammed the decision, urging the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to immediately look into the matter.

Vaughan took to X to express his concerns about the report, saying that the ECB owns the league, so they should act quickly to keep it open to all players.

“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,” said Michael Vaughan in a social media post.

As per the English media reports, four Indian-owned franchises, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds could potentially avoid signing Pakistani players in the upcoming league auction.

The recent report contradicts the statement given by ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould last year. He clarified that the league would remain open to all players, irrespective of who owns the franchises.

“We are aware of the challenges Pakistani players face in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” said the ECB Chief Executive, Richard Gould.

For the upcoming edition of the tournament, it has been reported that several star Pakistan players have registered for the auction, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Usman Tariq, and others. It will be interesting to see how the ECB responds to the issue, as it openly challenges their claims of maintaining transparency and fairness in The Hundred