Despite their notable contributions to Pakistan's cricketing achievements, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan faced disappointment as they went unnoticed during The Hundred 2024 player draft.
The surprise exclusion occurred despite the eleventh-hour registration of Babar, Rizwan, and T20 skipper Shaheen Afridi for the draft. A total of 64 Pakistani cricketers, comprising 59 men and five women, entered the pool earlier this month.
However, the absence of bids wasn't limited to Babar and Rizwan, as other Pakistani players like Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Amir also went unpicked. The trend extended to renowned international players such as Jason Roy, David Warner, Tim David, and Shakib Al Hasan.
In contrast, Shaheen Afridi found a place in Welse Fire for £100,000, reprising his role from the previous year. Two other Pakistani bowlers, Haris Rauf (Welsh Fire) and Usama Mir (Manchester Originals), secured retention before the draft.
Retired all-rounder Imad Wasim, fresh from his impactful performance in Islamabad United's Pakistan Super League (PSL 9) victory, returned to Trent Rockets for £100,000. Meanwhile, Birmingham Phoenix secured pacer Naseem Shah for £125,000.
The draft saw a high demand for West Indies players, with Nicholas Pooran becoming Northern Superchargers' first pick. Andre Russell and Shimron Hetmyer joined London Spirit, Kieron Pollard signed with Southern Brave, and Rovman Powell became a top choice for Trent Rockets.
However, Pakistani representation was notably absent in the women's draft. Australian cricketers dominated this segment, with players like Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Lauren Cheatle, Jess Jonassen, and Sophie Molineux fetching bids. India was represented by Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh.
The upcoming fourth edition of The Hundred is scheduled to commence on July 23, marking another exciting season of cricket.
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