In a significant development, former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has called on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to investigate reports that Indian-owned teams in The Hundred competition will deliberately exclude Pakistani players from their rosters during the upcoming auction scheduled for March 11-12, 2026. Vaughan emphasized the need for swift action, stating, "The ECB need to act fast on this... 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" (Business Recorder, February 20, 2026). This situation arises amidst longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have historically limited Pakistani players' participation in leagues associated with Indian franchises, including the Indian Premier League (IPL). The BBC reported that four teams in The Hundred—Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds—are expected to avoid selecting Pakistani players, despite over 67 Pakistani cricketers registering for the auction (BBC News, February 20, 2026).