India, Feb. 25 -- The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the eight franchises of The Hundred issued a joint statement on Tuesday, breaking their silence on swirling rumours that at least four Indian-owned teams could overlook Pakistan players on grounds of nationality at next month's auction. The ECB asserted there is no room for discrimination and warned that strict action would be taken against any such conduct.

According to a BBC report last week, four franchises linked to IPL team owners Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance), Southern Brave (GMR) and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun Group), were expected to bypass Pakistani players registered for the auction.

Pakistani cricketers have rarely featured in IPL-owned fra...