ECB told to ‘keep an eye out’ and ensure Pakistan players feature in The Hundred: ‘Don’t want to knock India'

Despite these reports, several Pakistan players, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, Sahibzada Farhan and Salman Ali Agha, have signed up for the auction set to take place on March 11 and 12. But whether teams show any interest, only time will tell.

“In the UK, I’m not sure that can happen – and I hope it doesn’t happen. It just shouldn’t happen, hopefully it won’t happen. We just have to wait and see if it does, but I think it’d be a massive shame, and I’m sure the ECB will definitely keep an eye out," Moeen told Telegraph Sport.

“There’ll be a group of players that will speak up. There’ll be things done about it. I think players should speak up. Anyone that has any sort of concern for these kind of things – it doesn’t matter if they have Pakistani heritage – should speak up. Obviously, the news is very new. So I’ve not really had a chance to speak to anyone, but most of the players would be on the same page. It’d be really interesting to see what happens, because I genuinely think other countries can do what they want, obviously, we’re not in control of those things, but in the UK, we have a bit more say about these things," he added.

He also raised his voice in favour of India and Pakistan playing a Test match against each other in neutral venues, saying it would be best for the longest format of the game.

“I’ve had amazing experiences playing there. I don’t want to knock India or anything like that. Playing IPL was the best thing that happened for my career. I’ve been treated amazingly well there. I played with some of the best players in the world who treated me like one of their own. When you’re there, it’s one of the best places to play," said Moeen.

“I would love to see Pakistan play India in England at a neutral ground. I think it’d be amazing for Test cricket, because they never play against each other. The crowds would be amazing, and the following would be amazing. Imagine what it’ll do for the game. The following that the teams have in England is huge. It’d be amazing to have that," he added.

The Indian investment in four teams in the Hundred was confirmed last year. Southern Brave (GMR), MI London (Reliance), Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), and SunRisers Leeds (Sun Group) are the four franchises to have Indians involved.

Moeen said that when the teams were being sold off, the ECB wouldn't have considered a situation where Pakistan players could be at risk.

It probably didn’t even cross their mind that much, honestly, because our mindset is not like that in England, I just think when they sold, it just didn’t cross their mind,” concluded Moeen.

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