Pakistan national cricket team fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the auction for The Hundred League being held in England.
Shaheen Afridi pulled out of The Hundred auction a day before it took place, according to media reports.
The fast bowler withdrew from the tournament because Pakistan is scheduled to play a Test series against the West Indies in July.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the upcoming draft, along with Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, AM Ghazanfar and Peter Siddle.
The board did not disclose specific reasons for the players’ withdrawals. However, scheduling conflicts with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and various bilateral international commitments are believed to have played a role.
Afridi, who previously represented Welsh Fire in 2023, had been listed in the ‘Tier 1 Fast Bowlers’ category for Thursday’s auction. During his earlier appearance in the competition, the left-arm pacer claimed six wickets. He had also been set to return last year but withdrew shortly before the event.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi stated that the team is focusing on preparing for the upcoming World Cup and wants to give opportunities to young players, as they represent the future of Pakistan cricket.
He expressed this while addressing a press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He noted that the players included in the squad have experience in List A cricket and have represented Pakistan Shaheens. Afridi added that some of the selected players, including Moaz Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan, have previously played in Dhaka. The second and third matches are scheduled for March 13 and March 15, respectively. All three games will take place at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
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