A recent BBC report has sparked debate over the absence of Pakistani cricketers from England’s flagship 100-ball tournament, The Hundred.

In this episode of The Blue Newsroom, Nukta Pakistan editor Amber Shamsi examines claims of an “unwritten rule” that is reportedly keeping Pakistan’s top players out of the fast-paced competition organized by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and featuring eight city-based teams.

The program explores why internationally recognized players such as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are said to be overlooked, particularly by franchises with Indian ownership links. It also delves into the broader political dynamics within the International Cricket Council (ICC), references former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi’s remarks about the “chabi in Mumbai”, and highlights England Test captain Harry Brook’s description of the situation as a “shame”.

The episode further touches on India’s Super 8 setback in Ahmedabad and a viral social media moment involving “Punch-kun”, widely shared alongside the phrase “Moye Moye”, underscoring how cricket and online culture continue to intersect.