Australia's David Warner, South Africa captain Quinton de Kock and West Indies’ Test captain Jason Holder and Pakistan captain Babar Azam have enrolled their names in the players' draft for The Hundred.
They are joined by Shakib Al Hasan, Nicholas Pooran, Lockie Ferguson, Tamim Iqbal, Kieron Pollard, and Kagiso Rabada as among more than 250 players vying for the seven remaining overseas places in the draft for the inaugural edition of England’s 100 balls-per-side franchise competition.
The England and Wales Cricket Board had planned to conduct the inaugural edition of The Hundred in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic ruined their plans despite all eight teams had already picked their squads for the first season of the 100-ball tournament.
Well ahead of the 2021 edition of The Hundred, all franchises have also announced their respective lists of retained and released players and there are now only 7 foreign slots available across the 8 teams to be filled in the upcoming virtual draft scheduled on Monday (February 22).
Earlier, Warner was picked by Southern Brave in 2020 but the swashbuckling opener withdrew due to scheduling issues following the COVID-19 forced shutdown across the world.
However the left-hander had no plans to re-enter this year's draft, but the postponement of Australia's tour of South Africa has eased his schedule to participate in The Hundred while his Aussie teammates Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc, who both initially signed up with Welsh Fire, are no longer available.
Notably, Warner is among the 10 overseas players in the highest reserve price bracket of £100,000 with the highest price of $139,000 along with Babar, De Kock, and Holder.
(With AFP Inputs)
