Former England captain Moeen Ali has warned that action could follow if Pakistani players are overlooked by Indian-owned teams in The Hundred, saying such discrimination “cannot happen in the UK” and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) must prevent it.

 

“It would be a massive shame if Pakistani players were overlooked on account of their nationality and I hope the ECB will take steps to prevent this from happening,” Moeen said in conversation with a media outlet as reports suggested that the four Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred – namely the Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – may avoid signing Pakistani players due to political tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.

 

“In the UK, I’m not sure that can happen and I hope it doesn’t happen. It just shouldn’t happen, hopefully it won’t happen. We just have to wait and see if it does, but I think it’d be a massive shame, and I’m sure the ECB will definitely keep an eye out,” he added.

 

Moeen stressed that players would speak up if they believed team owners were practicing discrimination.

 

“There’ll be a group of players that will speak up. There’ll be things done about it. I think players should speak up. Anyone that has any sort of concern for these kinds of things, it doesn’t matter if they have Pakistani heritage, should speak up. Obviously, the news is very new so I’ve not really had a chance to speak to anyone, but most of the players would be on the same page.”

 

He also acknowledged the challenges players face when speaking out. “It’s such a difficult one, because all these teams are everywhere in every league. So now if players speak out, or if they say anything, then it affects their career. It’s a difficult position for players to be in. When you’re an older player like myself, you don’t really care too much.”

 

Earlier, a Pakistani agent told a foreign media outlet that “it was a given” that Pakistani players would be excluded from the four teams with Indian ownership. “They have been doing the same all around the world. Now that they are in The Hundred, I don’t see it being any different.”

 

No Pakistani players have appeared in the IPL since 2008. Indian influence over global franchise cricket has also limited opportunities for Pakistani players. All six teams in South Africa’s SA20 are owned by IPL franchise groups, and no Pakistani player has participated in four seasons.

 

Similar exclusion has occurred in competitions in the UAE and the United States.