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The England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) domestic franchise league The Hundred is all set for a big change from the 2027 season. Teams will now be allowed to keep five overseas players in their squads from the next edition of the tournament.
The ECB has reportedly taken this decision after several teams faced overseas player availability problems during the 2026 season. Although the limit was increased from three to four overseas players last season, some teams still had to play with only three. Amid this, Dasun Shanaka smashes the fastest CPL century after coming to bat in 10th over.
The Hundred to allow 5 overseas players from 2027
The England and Wales Cricket Board now wants to avoid such problems and make sure teams have enough cover throughout the tournament. From 2027, every Hundred team can have a fifth overseas player in its squad.
With this move, the ECB wants to give franchises more options if a foreign player gets injured, leaves for national duty, or is struggling in The Hundred. However, the playing XI rules will continue to allow four overseas players in the 100-ball tournament.
The new rule is also expected to reduce the need for short-term replacement signings. One example from 2026 was Josh Philippe, who joined MI London for only one match as Sherfane Rutherford was on national duty.
Hundred squads set for more stability
The Hundred squads were changed before the 2026 season after the tournament moved to a private investment model. Teams were allowed only four pre-signings before the mega-auction held in the spring. Now, the squads are expected to stay more stable for the next two seasons.
Players were signed under a 1+1+1 contract system, similar to the IPL. Teams can retain up to 16 players from their 2026 squad for the next two seasons on the same salary.
Players bought at the auction can also be retained, while replacement players must have played at least two matches to qualify. Amid this, Michael Atherton questions Babar Azam’s authority as Pakistan captain.
Salary caps and 2027 schedule revealed
The salary caps are expected to stay almost the same in 2027. The men’s teams will have a cap of around £2.05 million, while the women’s teams will have around £880,000. However, these amounts could increase slightly.
The Hundred 2027 is scheduled from August 3 to 29, starting just after the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, which is expected to finish on August 2. The ECB hopes the close timing with the Ashes will help attract more fans and increase ticket sales.
Overseas players' availability still a big question
However, the availability of overseas players is still not fully clear because the next Future Tours Programme is yet to be finalized. But it is almost certain that the final week of The Hundred 2027 could clash with the ODI series between Australia and New Zealand.
The ECB is also happy with the impact of the new investment in the tournament. The 2026 season was seen as a big improvement in terms of cricket quality, while the money coming into the competition has also helped counties clear or reduce their debts.
