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[Saba Sports News] Pakistan speedster Shaheen Afridi will not play in this year’s Hundred, opting instead to spend more time with his family.
He is reportedly in talks with Canada’s Global T20, which clashes with The Hundred this year. Afridi’s absence is a significant blow to The Hundred, where he took six wickets in as many matches for Welsh Fire last year. He was retained on a £100,000 contract but has now pulled out, confirmed by the ECB on June 3.
“I’m sad to miss out on playing for Welsh Fire this year. I enjoyed The Hundred a lot last season, and I was excited about being back in Cardiff. I wish Mike [Hussey, Welsh Fire’s coach] and the team the best of luck for 2024,” Afridi said in a press release.
Afridi expressed his reluctance to spend four weeks away from his family. The Hundred runs from July 23 to August 18, with players reporting a few days before their first match.
Pakistan players are allowed two No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) per season for foreign leagues under their central contracts with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Afridi has a long-term deal with the Desert Vipers in UAE’s ILT20. Instead of using his second NOC on The Hundred, Afridi is considering the Global T20 in Canada, expected to run from July 25 to August 11.
New Zealand seamer Matt Henry has been signed as Afridi’s replacement for Welsh Fire, though he might miss the start if his MLC team, the San Francisco Unicorns, reaches the playoffs. Many men’s overseas players in The Hundred face similar scheduling conflicts.