KARACHI: Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim have signed with Northern Superchargers for The Hundred 2025 season on Tuesday.
According to reports, the two Pakistani players have been brought in as replacements for Ben Dwarshuis and Mitchell Santner.
Earlier, concerns were raised that Pakistani players might be excluded from the tournament due to the majority of team owners being of Indian origin.
According to reports, Amir and Wasim were brought on as replacement players for Ben Dwarshuis and Mitchell Santner, respectively. Their inclusion is a significant development, especially given the preceding controversy that surrounded the league.
Earlier this year, a surprising lack of Pakistani players in the initial draft led to speculation of an unofficial ban due to the influence of Indian franchise owners.
The Northern Superchargers, a team set to be acquired by the Indian media group 'Sun' from October 1, were at the center of this debate. The English Cricket Board (ECB), however, had consistently rejected these fears, assuring that Pakistani cricketers would not be barred from the tournament.
Experts had pointed to other factors for the initial draft snub, including the players' unavailability due to Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies and a tri-series in the UAE, a recent dip in their T20 performance, and the last-minute withdrawals of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah in the previous season.
The addition of Amir and Wasim is expected to bolster the Superchargers' lineup. They join a team that also includes English all-rounder Ben Stokes, though Stokes has opted to miss this season due to a shoulder surgery.
