“Those who are interested can pick us” - Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan amid the shadow ban on Pakistan players in The Hundred auction

Pakistan's opening batter, Sahibzada Farhan, has opened up on the reports of the IPL-owned The Hundred franchises boycotting Pakistani players at the auction, which is scheduled to take place next month.

Advertisment

Notably, four franchises have IPL-linked owners, namely, MI London (Reliance), Southern Brave (GMR), Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun Group). All four of these franchises are considering shadow-banning Pakistan cricketers at the auction amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan.

When asked about his reaction to the rumours, Farhan, who attended the press conference ahead of the game against England in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, stated that it's not in his hands.

"I have a lot of hope, every player wants to play for every league, and The Hundred is one of the best leagues. So hope for the best," Farhan told reporters in the press conference.

"See, it's not in our hands to decide who will pick us or not. That is not in our hands. Wherever we get a chance, those who are interested can pick us, and we are ready to play in that league. And we are not interested in playing with the people, the way you have spoken,” he added.

For the unversed, the Indian Premier League franchises haven’t seen a Pakistani player since the conclusion of the first-ever season, following terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008. Moreover, in the recently concluded ILT20 2025-26 auction, American-owned Desert Vipers were the only franchise to have signed Pakistan players.

Most recently, England captain, Harry Brook, stated that it would be a shame if Pakistan players don't get picked in the auction, adding that their involvement in the campaign would make it even better.

Advertisment

"There are some amazing cricketers and, yeah, they bring some great crowds as well. So it would be a shame not to see some of the Pakistan players in there and make the tournament and competition even better," Brook told reporters.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!