Pakistan’s ODI captain Shaheen Afridi has withdrawn his name from the Hundred auction just ahead of the auction being held for the first time in the history of the competition. Pakistan’s premier fast bowler is one of the players for whom potential bids could be made, amid speculations that Pakistani players may not find suitable bidders amid the takeover of The Hundred teams by Indian owners.
Pakistan is not able to perform at its best in the shortest format of the game. He has attempted to join several franchise leagues around the world; However, they are not able to do so. A major reason for this is the franchise’s disinterest in him due to his lack of form.
The BBL marked several players of Pakistani origin such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadan Khan and Shaheen Afridi in the Australian T20 tournament; However, none of these players really impressed with their performances. However, Haris Rauf remained a standard artiste.
Why did Shaheen Afridi withdraw from The Hundred auction?
There could be several reasons for Shaheen Afridi’s withdrawal from The Hundred just before the auction for the first time in the competition. The cricketer’s exit is a mystery that is yet to be solved. One reason for this could also be his international commitment.
Shaheen Afridi has withdrawn his name from The Hundred auction. pic.twitter.com/6BrPxYzoCc
– Sherry. (@CallMeSheri1_) 12 March 2026
Shaheen is shown on Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh in the March-April window. Although temporary for now, Pakistan have back-to-back international tours in the next year.
The series against Zimbabwe in May will be followed by hosting Australia in June, which will be important for the Pakistani ODI captain as they prepare for the upcoming 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. There will be a Test series between Pakistan and West Indies in the July-August window, which may clash with the schedule of The Hundred.
It will be a big challenge for Pakistani left-arm fast bowlers to test their ability in the Caribbean. Next month, they have to play another series against England, and hence, the workload will be bigger even if Shaheen is involved in the Hundred.
Lastly, the fear of going unsold after a poor T20 World Cup and the arrival of Indian owners in the Hundred could also be a possible reason for Shaheen to step back at the right time.
Shaheen Afridi’s performance in The Hundred
Shaheen Afridi’s only season in The Hundred came back in the third edition of the competition in 2023. He was selected to play for the Welsh Fire team and played 6 games for them. Known for his occasional antics with the bat in the shorter formats, his record in The Hundred looks lackluster. Shaheen Afridi could score only 5 runs facing 7 balls in 2 innings of Hundred.
In 6 matches, this legendary fast bowler of Pakistan has taken 6 wickets in hundred giving 126 runs after bowling 100 balls. His economy of 7.56 looks good for the competition; However, his wicket-taking ability has not been expressed to the best potential despite the swing-friendly conditions in England.
Dispute between Pakistani players and Indian owners in The Hundred
Pakistani players have previously been part of the Hundred in England. However, the only franchise league where they are not welcome to play is the IPL, the world’s biggest franchise T20 league played in India.
In a major turn of events, IPL owners have now invested in stakes in the Hundred franchises. Four of the eight franchises are now partly or fully owned by the owners of the IPL franchises, and hence, a speculative report by BBC Sport suggested that the Indian owners may instruct coaches not to bid for Pakistani players in the Hundred.
However, recent reports and media statements from the coaches have revealed that no such instructions have been issued; They have been asked to make every possible effort to field the best possible side to win the competition, regardless of the nationality of the player.
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