Shaheen Afridi Pulls Out of The Hundred Auction

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has withdrawn from the Hundred auction, joining four other overseas players who pulled out shortly before the bidding was scheduled to begin on Thursday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday evening that Shaheen Afridi would no longer take part in the Hundred auction. He was among five overseas cricketers to withdraw alongside Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, AM Ghazanfar and Peter Siddle.

Although the board did not specify individual reasons for the withdrawals, scheduling conflicts with the Caribbean Premier League and bilateral international commitments are believed to have influenced the decisions.

Shaheen Afridi had previously played in The Hundred for Welsh Fire during the 2023 season. During that stint, the Pakistan ODI captain claimed six wickets in the tournament.

The left-arm pacer had been listed in the Tier 1 Fast Bowlers category for Thursday’s auction. He was also set to return to the competition last year but withdrew shortly before the event.

Despite Afridi’s withdrawal, a total of 13 Pakistan players remain available for selection in the Hundred auction.

ECB clarifies player selection policy

The withdrawals come amid recent scrutiny surrounding the participation of Pakistani players in the tournament.

In response to reports suggesting some franchises with Indian ownership links may be reluctant to pick Pakistani cricketers, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the eight Hundred franchises released a joint statement.

The statement reaffirmed that selections would be based on performance, availability and the requirements of each team.

Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine have both previously appeared in The Hundred. De Kock represented Southern Brave while Narine featured for Oval Invincibles.

Their withdrawals, along with those of AM Ghazanfar and Australian seamer Peter Siddle, are expected to prompt last-minute adjustments to team strategies ahead of Thursday’s auction.

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