New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- The England and Wales Cricket Board, alongside the franchises of The Hundred, has released a joint statement affirming that player selection must remain nationality-neutral. This follows concerns that Pakistani cricketers might be systematically overlooked by four Indian-owned teams during next month's auction.

Half of the eight franchises - Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance), Southern Brave (GMR), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun Group) - share ownership with IPL teams.

British media reports suggest these groups may bypass Pakistani talent. Historically, even without Indian ownership, Pakistani participation has been sparse; only two players participated last year, with just nine featuring across t...