The Hundred: The ECB writes to team owners to remind them of responsibilities

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has written to eight hundred teams to remind them of their responsibilities towards discrimination.

Earlier this week, BBC Sport reported that Pakistani cricketers are not being considered by the four Indian-owned teams in next month’s Hundred auction.

Pakistani players are not playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) amid ongoing political tensions between the two countries, and this trend is reflected in IPL-owned franchises around the world.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould said last year he expected “players from all countries to be selected for all teams” at The Hundred and warned there were “clear anti-discrimination policies”.

The ECB retained overall control of The Hundred when it sold stakes in the eight teams last year, although its power has been diluted with new owners.

It cannot force teams to select players and any accusations of discrimination must be supported by clear evidence.

The ECB could refer the concession to the cricket regulator, which could also conduct its own investigation. The administrative body can also issue its own separate sanctions.

Two Pakistani internationals – Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim – featured in last year’s tournament, which was the last edition before new investors took over.

More than 60 Pakistani players were among the 964 players who registered for the auction, which will be held on March 11 and 12.

This week, teams will submit a list of players of interest, narrowing down the overall options to a long list of fewer than 200 players who will go to auction.