The inaugural season of ‘The Hundred’ in the UK, which has already had multiple names opt-out for different reasons, has now seen further additions in the list of withdrawals.
New Zealand skipper and Pakistan speedster have also announced their unavailability for the event, joining a long list of players to initially sign deals in the tournament but take their names back at the last minute.
Kane Williamson, who recently led NZ to victory in the World Test Championship final against India, is still in the UK but has withdrawn from The Hundred to better manage an elbow injury.
He missed a home white-ball series against Bangladesh, the start of the IPL 2021 and the second Test versus England last month because of the problem.
Not available to play for Birmingham Phoenix, Williamson, could be available to the side in mentor’s capacity, reported ESPNcricinfo. The Phoenix have lined up Williamson’s Kiwi counterpart, Finn Allen, as a direct replacement. Allen is already in the UK, playing for Lancashire in the ongoing T20 Blast.
The withdrawal of Shaheen Afridi from Phoenix’s roster is down to Pakistan’s busy international calendar as The Hundred clashes with their trip to the Caribbean for five T20Is and two Test matches.
The Hundred will be played from July 22 to August 21, while Pakistan’s West Indies visit will begin on July 27 and run until August 24. Before travelling to face the Calypso Kings, Pakistan will also play England in a white-ball series, starting July 8.
Phonix’s third men’s overseas player, Adam Zampa, also looks set to pull out of The Hundred this year due to a packed international calendar that sees Australia tour West Indies and Bangladesh ahead of the T20 World Cup in UAE.
Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson are two more Australian players to have taken their names back due to additional complications borne out of the pandemic regulations, including the 14-day quarantine. The likes of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis had already opted out.
