About 50 English cricket players have threatened to boycott The Hundred 2025 in protest against the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new policy of banning them from playing in overseas franchise leagues, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Sports Inside reported.
The ECB has officially banned English players from participating in franchise tournaments worldwide, with the exception of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Last month, the ECB decided not to issue No Objection Letters (NOCs) to national cricketers to participate in overseas franchise leagues that clash with the domestic season in order to maintain the quality and competitiveness of England’s domestic cricket.
A large number of England’s players, however, did not agree with the ECB’s new policy and expressed their disappointment over it.
A group of English players has also decided not to be part of the ongoing negotiations with their respective The Hundred teams about their retention and will refuse to enter the draft until the ECB relaxes its policy on NOCs.
There are also reports that notable county players are considering retiring from red-ball cricket if a lucrative deal is secured for next year’s Pakistan Super League.
The ECB’s new policy will not grant NOCs for England’s domestic competitions, but players on white-ball contracts alone may still be eligible to participate in such tournaments. The players will not be able to participate in more than one league during the same timeframe, according to the board’s decision.
The Hundred is a cricket tournament in the UK, launched in 2021, where each team plays 100 balls. Similar to the PSL and other domestic leagues, it is played between city-based teams with both local and international players. The tournament includes both men’s and women’s competitions, with top players from around the world.
New ECB rules restrict English players from PSL but allow IPL participation
The English Cricket Board (ECB) has banned its players from playing in any franchise league during the English domestic season.
British media say that English cricketers cannot play in several leagues, including PSL, MCL, LPL and CPL. ECB’s decision will also affect the Pakistan Super League (PSL), to be held in April next year. However, ECB has given players an exemption from playing the India Premier League (IPL) in the new policy.
Due to the Champions Trophy, PSL Season 9 window has been kept in April and May. The English county season also takes place in the same months. The ECB’s decision is likely to cause financial loss to players playing franchise cricket, and there is a fear that this decision may cause some players to leave red-ball cricket.
ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould said, “We have to protect the dignity of our game and the strength of our cricket competitions. No player will be given a No Objection Letter (NOC) to participate in any other competitions during the English Vitality Blast and The Hundred League.”
The ECB says that the decision will improve the quality of domestic cricket.