Pakistani Stars Amir & Imad Join SRH Owner Kavya Maran's Teams in The Hundred
Pakistani Stars Amir & Imad Join Northern Superchargers – Myths About Indian Ownership Busted
Northern Superchargers have drafted Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim as replacement players for the 2025 men’s edition of The Hundred, ending weeks of chatter that Pakistani cricketers would be frozen out because half the league’s franchises now have Indian or Indian-American owners.
How the Signings Unfolded
Player | Replaces | Availability | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
Mohammad Amir | Ben Dwarshuis (Australia duty) | Full season | Left-arm pace |
Imad Wasim | Mitchell Santner (NZ tour, 7–10 Aug) | Two matches | Spin-bowling all-rounder |
Both join a squad that already includes England’s Ben Stokes in an informal mentor role while he rehabs a shoulder injury.
Why Were Pakistanis Missing at the Draft?
Clashing tours – Pakistan’s white-ball squads were booked for West Indies and a UAE tri-series during draft week, so most first-choice names were unavailable.
Form concerns – Pakistan had lost five of their previous seven T20Is.
Late 2024 withdrawals – Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah pulled out of last season, making teams wary.
Ownership, Politics and Perception
Four of the eight Hundred teams are now owned by Indian companies; two more have Indian-American investors. The Superchargers themselves were bought outright by Chennai-based Sun Group—owners of IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad—for ₹1,094 crore, with control passing on 1 October.
That backdrop, plus the post-Pahalgam political chill between India and Pakistan and SA20’s continuing exclusion of Pakistani players, fuelled rumours of a silent embargo.
ECB’s Position
ECB chief executive Richard Gould stated in February that ownership “won’t be happening here” when asked if investors could veto players on political grounds. Amir and Imad’s arrival backs up that stance.
What Amir & Imad Bring
Metric | Amir (T20 career) | Imad (T20 career) |
|---|---|---|
Matches | 245 | 268 |
Wkts / Ave | 303 / 22.1 | 253 / 24.8 |
Econ | 7.1 rpo | 6.9 rpo |
Bat SR | – | 131 |
Death-over craft: Amir’s yorkers and angle remain assets on short 100-ball spells.
Power-play control: Imad’s left-arm darts concede under 7 rpo.
Experience: Both have won PSL titles and played franchise cricket on four continents.
Squad Snapshot – Northern Superchargers 2025
Top Order | Middle & Finish | Bowling |
|---|---|---|
Harry Brook | Matthew Short | Reece Topley |
Will Young | Imad Wasim | Mohammad Amir |
Adam Hose | Ben Stokes (mentor) | Adil Rashid |
Key: bold – new Pakistan signings
Wider Replacement Moves This Week
Team | Incoming | Replacing |
|---|---|---|
London Spirit | John Simpson, Dan Douthwaite | Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope (rest) |
Manchester Originals | Mark Chapman | Rachin Ravindra (NZ duty) |
Trent Rockets | Akeal Hosein | George Linde (SA duty) |
What the Signings Mean
No blanket ban: Indian ownership has not blocked Pakistani participation; player availability still drives decisions.
Boost for Superchargers: Left-arm variety plugs gaps created by Dwarshuis and Santner’s national duties.
Precedent set: Future drafts may see more Pakistani names if schedules allow and performances improve.
A Note on Ben Stokes
The England skipper will “knock about” with the squad in a mentoring capacity—no notebook, just advice—while continuing shoulder rehab.
Looking Ahead
The Hundred starts 5 August. Amir is available from game one; Imad slots in for matches on 7 and 10 August before Santner returns. If the pair perform, they’ll help push Superchargers towards the Eliminator and, just as importantly, show that cricketing doors can stay open despite geopolitical noise.