Welsh Fire united Pakistan pair Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf in a busy draft
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-2023Thursday’s Hundred draft saw 30 men’s players picked across the eight teams, with Welsh Fire strengthening significantly after a winless 2022 season.Their new coach Michael Hussey used the first pick of the draft to select Tom Abell – after Tim David returned to Southern Brave via their Right-To-Match (RTM) card – then secured the services of Pakistan’s pace duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, as well as the all-round skills of David Willey.Domestic players proved particularly popular once again, with several leading overseas players including Babar Azam, Kieron Pollard and Trent Boult going unsold – in some cases, due to concerns over their availability.Each team will be able to sign two more players as ‘wildcards’ after the group stages of the Vitality Blast, as well as any replacement players that are required before the start of the Hundred on August 1.
Welsh FireDraft picks: Tom Abell, David Willey, Shaheen Afridi, Glenn Phillips, Haris Rauf, Roelof van der Merwe, Stevie Eskinazi, Dan DouthwaiteSouthern BraveRetained: Jofra Archer (central contract), James Vince, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills, Rehan Ahmed, Craig Overton, Finn Allen, George Garton, James Fuller, Alex Davies, Joe Weatherley
Draft picks: Leus du Plooy, Tim David, Devon ConwayTim David won the Hundred with Southern Brave in 2021•Getty Images
Northern SuperchargersRetained: Ben Stokes (central contract), Adil Rashid, Harry Brook, Adam Lyth, Adam Hose, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, David Wiese, Wayne Parnell, Callum Parkinson
Draft picks: Reece Topley, Tom Banton, Michael Bracewell, Bas de LeedeOval InvinciblesRetained: Sam Curran (central contract), Sunil Narine, Will Jacks, Jason Roy, Tom Curran, Sam Billings, Saqib Mahmood, Jordan Cox, Gus Atkinson, Danny Briggs, Nathan Sowter
Draft picks: Heinrich Klaasen, Ross Whiteley, IhsanullahIhsanullah joins Oval Invincibles•PCB
Birmingham PhoenixRetained: Chris Woakes (central contract), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Shadab Khan, Adam Milne, Benny Howell, Will Smeed, Kane Richardson, Tom Helm, Chris Benjamin, Dan Mousley
Draft picks: Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Miles HammondLondon SpiritRetained: Mark Wood (central contract), Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis, Liam Dawson, Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley, Jordan Thompson, Mason Crane, Adam Rossington, Chris Wood, Ravi Bopara
Draft picks: Mitchell Marsh, Olly Stone, Michael PepperLaurie Evans will return to Manchester Originals•PA Images via Getty Images
Manchester OriginalsRetained: Jos Buttler (central contract), Wanindu Hasaranga, Phil Salt, Jamie Overton, Tom Hartley, Richard Gleeson, Paul Walter, Josh Little, Wayne Madsen, Tom Lammonby, Mitchell Stanley
Draft picks: Laurie Evans, Ashton Turner, Josh TongueTrent RocketsRetained: Joe Root (central contract), Rashid Khan, Dawid Malan, Alex Hales, Lewis Gregory, Luke Wood, Colin Munro, Sam Cook, Daniel Sams, Samit Patel, Matt Carter
Draft picks: Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Hain, Brad Wheal
