The Hundred is supposed to be cricket’s loudest, most colorful party, but some of the biggest names are stuck at the door. Imagine throwing a massive bash and “forgetting” to invite the best dancers. That is exactly what is happening to Pakistan’s top stars like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Even though they are world-class players, they remain unpicked in the latest draft.
The reason isn’t their bowling speed or batting averages. Instead, it comes down to a quiet, “unwritten rule” among team owners. Many teams in The Hundred are now owned by the same big bosses who run Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. Because of the long-standing political tension between India and Pakistan, these owners seem to be playing it very safe.
According to player agents, these bosses do not want to deal with any controversy back home. They prefer to skip over Pakistani talent entirely rather than risk a social media storm in India. It is like a restaurant refusing to serve a five-star chef just because the owner and the chef’s cousin don’t get along.
While no one has officially banned these players, the silence during the draft says everything. Fans want to see the best versus the best, but the team sheets tell a different story. For now, Pakistan’s elite players are being “ghosted” by the tournament’s decision-makers. It turns out that in the world of professional cricket, sometimes the most important game happens inside a boardroom rather than on the pitch.
