limited overs captain of England harry brook has expressed its strong disapproval regarding those reports players of pakistan Being kept out of the Hundred 2026 auction by franchises under Indian ownership. speaking from t20 world cup 2026 On February 21, 2026, Brook emphasized that the absence of such high-calibre talent would be a major loss to the quality and global appeal of the competition.
‘It would be a shame’: England captain Harry Brook calls for inclusivity
Addressing the media just a day before the high-stakes Super 8 match against England Sri LankaThe 26-year-old captain was vocal about the importance of having the best players in the world regardless of nationality. Brooke expressed high respect for Pakistan’s cricketing prowess and the unique energy their players bring to any tournament.
“Pakistan has been a great cricket nation for many years and they have some amazing players, some of the best players in the world. I think there are about 50 or 60 players in the auction and it would be a shame not to see some of them there. There are some amazing cricketers there and they bring some great crowds too. So it would be a shame not to see some of the Pakistan players there and make the tournament and the competition even better.” BBC Sports quoted Brook as saying.
after which controversy arose bbc sport Investigation has revealed that the four franchises which were recently acquired Indian Premier League (IPL) Owner, manchester super giants, mi london, southern braveAnd sunrisers leads-Pakistan players are unlikely to be considered during the auction on March 11-12.
The Hundred 2026: Brook’s new role in Sunrisers leads
Despite differences over his team’s ownership, Brook remains the face of it sunrisers leads (formerly Northern Superchargers). He is set to become the highest-paid player of the tournament with a whopping fee of £465,000 (approximately ₹5.26 crore), yet he has taken the strategic decision to step down from captaincy to focus on his batting and international leadership.
“I am staying away from that thing and will let the head coach and whoever is in charge control it. My main focus at the moment is to play the T20 World Cup.” Brook concluded.
Former England captain michael vaughan has joined the indignation while urging ecb To intervene immediately. Vaughan gave this argument on social media “The ECB needs to act swiftly… They own the league and this should not be allowed to happen. The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen.” With just weeks left for the auction, pressure is mounting on the ECB to ensure that their anti-discrimination policies are maintained.
Also read: This is why half of The Hundred teams can avoid signing Pakistani players in 2026
