The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has released the initial draft list for its new domestic tournament ‘The Hundred.’
Among 239 foreign players, the list contains thirty-five Pakistani players, including the likes of Mohammad Amir, Babar Azam, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, and Shoaib Malik.
Among all, Mohammad Amir is the most expensive Pakistani player in the draft with a reserve price of £100,000 (Rs. 19.89 million approx. as per the current exchange rate).
Pakistan’s ODI vice-captain Babar Azam, veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez and leg-spinner Shadab Khan are in the second tier with a reserve price of £75,000 ((Rs. 14.9 million approx.).
Meanwhile, pace sensations Shaheen Afridi, Usman Shinwari, and Wahab Riaz are included in the third tier at £60,000 (Rs. 11.94 million approx.), while Shahid Afridi, and Shoaib Malik are also the same category.
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Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, all-rounder Imad Wasim and Asif Ali are on the list with a reserve price of £50,000 (Rs. 9.19 million approx.).
The likes of Umar Akmal, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, and Fakhar Zaman are listed with a reserve price of £40,000 (Rs. 7.93 million approx.)
The draft also enlists 18 Pakistani players without any reserve price. The list includes:
Mohammad Irfan | Junaid Khan | Haris Sohail | Moh. Nawaz | Asad Shafiq | Yasir Shah |
Ahmed Shehzad | Usama Mir | Sohail Tanvir | Imam ul Haq | Aamir Yamin | Moh. Rizwan |
Iftekhar Ahmed | Kamran Akmal | Saif Badar | Mir Hamza | Adeel Malik | Sohaib Maqsood |
The highest reserve price offered is £125,000, and only six players have been drafted as star reserves including, Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga, Kagiso Rabada, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and David Warner.
Squad & Team Information
The Hundred men’s Draft is scheduled on Sunday, 20 October. As per the rules, each team can select 12 players on the day with a maximum of three overseas picks.
The unique-format tournament will feature eight city-based teams. Their names and pre-draft picks are as follows:
Franchise Name | Venue | Coach | England Centrally Contracted Player |
---|---|---|---|
Birmingham Phoenix | Old Trafford | Simon Katich | Chris Woakes |
London Spirit | Headingley | Darren Lehmann | Rory Burns |
Manchester Origins | Edgbaston | Andrew McDonald | Jos Buttler |
Northern Superchargers | Trent Bridge | Stephen Fleming | Ben Stokes |
Oval Invincibles | Sophia Gardens | Gary Kirsten | Sam Curran |
Southern Brave | Lord’s | Shane Warne | Jofra Archer |
Trent Rockets | The Oval | Tom Moody | Joe Root |
Welsh Fire | Rose Bowl | Mahela Jayawardene | Jonny Bairstow |
Only Amir will be picked and perhaps Malik and Babar
No doubt, in today’s cricket, money walks, money talks, money rocks, money mocks and sometimes stalks.