Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan has said he remains hopeful of securing a contract to play in this year’s Hundred despite reports that the tournament’s four Indian teams will not consider signing players from the country, but he admitted selection decisions are “out of our hands”.
Farhan, the leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, is one of 63 Pakistani players on the 710-name longlist proposed for the men’s auction on March 12. Despite the rumours, more Pakistani players have made themselves available than those from any other country, with all but two of the country’s 15-man World Cup squad hoping for a deal.
The eight Hundred teams have each been asked to reduce that longlist to the 75 players in which they are most interested. The England and Wales Cricket Board is expected to publish the resulting shortlist this week.
Farhan said he was “very hopeful” he would be signed. “Because every player wants to play in every league, wants to play in the good leagues,” said the 29-year-old. “The Hundred is one of the best competitions. So I hope for the best.”
The ECB wrote a letter to the eight Hundred clubs on Sunday, warning them that action would be taken if there was any evidence of discrimination in their selection policies. “This is not in our hands, who chooses us or who doesn’t,” Farhan said. “Whatever team is interested in picking us can do that, and we’re ready to play in that league. It’s not like people aren’t interested in us.”
Due to geopolitical tensions between the countries, Pakistani players have not been considered by teams in the Indian Premier League since 2009. They are also not signed by other domestic franchises controlled by IPL team owners, including South Africa’s SA20 and the United Arab Emirates’ ILT20. As a result, Farhan’s franchise experience is limited to the Pakistan Super League, the Pakistan Champions T20 Cup and nine matches in the Bangladesh Premier League.
The sale of shares in the eight Hundred teams was completed last year, with Oval Invincibles, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers and Southern Brave all now sharing ownership with IPL teams. The first three of these have since been renamed MI London, Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds.
No Pakistani players were picked up in the 2025 Hundred Auction, partly due to scheduling conflicts, with their national team playing in the West Indies and the United Arab Emirates while the tournament was underway. Similar issues could deter potential suitors this year: during the Hundred, Pakistan are due to play two Tests in the West Indies, with a three-Test series against England starting three days after the final.
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