Shaheen Shah Afridi is in talks to join Canada’s Global T20 league, after pulling out of the Hundred citing a desire to spend time with his family. The two leagues will go head-to-head in 2024 and Afridi’s withdrawal is a major blow to the century stand.
Afridi played in the Hundred for the first time last year, taking six wickets in six matches for the Welsh Fire. He was retained by mutual agreement on a contract worth £100,000 – the second-highest salary band in the league – for the 2024 season, but has now pulled out of his deal. The ECB confirmed his resignation on Monday.
“I’m sad to miss playing for the Welsh Fire this year,” Afridi was quoted as saying in a press release. “I really enjoyed last season, and I was happy to be back in Cardiff. I wish Mike [Hussey, Welsh Fire’s coach] and the team, we wish you the best of luck in 2024.”
ESPNcricinfo understands that Afridi’s official explanation to the ECB was that he was reluctant to commit to spending four weeks away from his family. The Hundred starts on July 23 and ends on August 18, with players expected to report a few days before their opening match.
Rather than use his second NOC for the Hundred, Afridi will consider playing in the Global T20, a privately run league in Canada, which is set to return for a fourth season in 2024. Organizers are yet to announce the program but it is expected to run from July 25 to August 11 – a window slightly shorter than the 100.
The first two editions of the Global T20 were in 2018 and 2019 but were postponed indefinitely during the Covid crisis. It made a surprise return in 2023, attracting strong overseas players including Andre Russell, Mohammad Rizwan and Shakib Al Hasan, who ran at the same time as the augural Major League Cricket (MLC).
The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has received reports of late or non-payment issues with the Global T20 over the past 24 months. As a result, FICA recommends on its league website that “any participating players request an enhanced payment”.
New Zealand seamer Matt Henry has been confirmed as Afridi’s replacement in the Welsh Fire in the Hundred. He may miss the start of the tournament if the San Francisco Unicorns, his MLC team, reach the play-offs, almost half of the overseas male players signed up for the Hundred in the same situation.
The ECB’s desire to compete with the salaries offered in other leagues is among the reasons behind their decision to open the league up to private investment. Four other Pakistani players are contracted to the Men’s Majors in 2024: Naseem Shah (Birmingham Phoenix), Haris Rauf (Welsh Fire), Imad Wasim (Trent Rockets) and Usama Mir (Manchester Originals).
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