In a significant development regarding the upcoming auction for The Hundred, it has been reported that franchises with Indian ownership are likely to avoid bidding on Pakistani players. This situation has drawn criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who stated, "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 does not allow this to happen" (Geo Sport). As of now, 67 Pakistani players, including notable names like Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan, have registered for the auction, which is set to take place on March 11-12 in London. However, the participation of these players is overshadowed by fears of a 'shadow ban' imposed by franchises linked to Indian investors, which could significantly limit their opportunities (BBC News, ESPN Cricinfo). Notably, England Test captain Ben Stokes has not signed up for the auction, further complicating the landscape of player participation (BBC News).