Brook Advocates for Inclusion of Pakistan Players in The Hundred
Harry Brook has urged the teams participating in this year’s Hundred tournament to consider including Pakistan players, following reports that the four Indian-owned sides might exclude them.
Brook, who is England’s white-ball captain and contracted to Sunrisers Leeds, a team owned by the Indian media company the Sun Group (which also owns IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad), is the highest-paid player in the tournament.
There will be 63 Pakistan players available in the men’s auction on 12 March, including nearly all those in Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup, except two. Additionally, four Pakistan players will be available in the women’s auction held the day before.
“What I would say is Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years. I think there’s about 50 or 60 players in the auction and it would be a shame not to see some of them in there. There’s some amazing cricketers and they bring some great crowds as well. It would be a shame to not see some of the Pakistan players in there, and [they] make the tournament even better.”
Brook noted that the decision on which players teams choose to target is "not really any of our business," but emphasized the value Pakistan players add to the competition.
Brook Steps Down as Captain for This Season
The 26-year-old, who captained his side when it was known as Northern Superchargers during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, announced on Saturday that he would not be leading the team this summer by his own request.
“I have already said I am not going to captain this year,”he said.
“I am staying away from that stuff and will let the head coach and whoever is in charge control that.”
Sunrisers Leeds will play their first match at The Oval on 21 July, two days after Brook is scheduled to captain England in a One Day International against India at Lord’s. The Hundred final is set for 16 August, three days before Brook is expected to represent England in the first of three Test matches, which will be against Pakistan at Headingley, the home ground of Sunrisers Leeds.
England’s Preparation for Sri Lanka Series
Brook’s current focus is on England’s preparation for their opening game of the series against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Sunday. England have chosen not to name their playing XI until the toss, with Brook indicating that there will be changes.
“There’s going to be some changes to the side so we’re not too predictable.”
England are also monitoring the fitness of Jacob Bethell, who injured a finger in the field during the recent match against the West Indies. The finger remains in protective strapping as of Saturday.
“The rule with the strapping isn’t helping, because he’s got a decent cut on his finger so he’d have to have strapping on,”Brook explained.
“If there’s some way we can get around that then we’d like to bowl him.”
The tournament’s playing conditions specify that
“protection for the hand or fingers may be worn only with the consent of the umpires.”Bethell has continued to play since sustaining the injury but has not bowled since England’s victory over Sri Lanka in their final warmup game on 3 February, also held in Pallekele.
