Pakistan's Naseem Shah and West Indies stars among top picks in Hundred draft

Babar Azam among big names to miss out on August 3-September 22 tournament

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard will be part of London Spirit in the 2022 edition of Hundred tournament. AP

Andre Russell - Manchester Originals. Getty

Naseem Shah - Welsh Fire. AFP

Quinton de Kock - Southern Brave. AFP

Wanindu Hasaranga - Manchester Originals. Reuters

Dwayne Bravo - Northern Superchargers. Reuters

Sunil Narine - Oval Invincibles. Sportzpics for IPL

Wahab Riaz - Northern Superchargers. AFP

Young Pakistan quick Naseem Shah and West Indies' white-ball specialists were the star picks in the 2022 men's Hundred draft on Tuesday.

West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard was London Spirit's first selection at the draft that took place behind closed doors on Monday, with the results released throughout Tuesday. The top picks were drafted for £125,000 ($163, 410).

Pollard's Caribbean teammates Andre Russell (Manchester Originals) and Dwayne Bravo (Northern Superchargers) were also picked up for the maximum price.

"I'm really looking forward to joining the Northern Superchargers this summer," Bravo said. "Last year's competition turned a lot of heads so 'Sir Champions' is excited to play the format and see the music and crowds for myself."

Shah is one of the most exciting white-ball bowlers in league cricket and was one of two Pakistan players selected - the other being left-arm quick Wahab Riaz.

The biggest name to miss out on selection was Pakistan captain Babar Azam. The ICC's top-ranked T20 batsman Azam and No 1 bowler Tabraiz Shamsi were left without a contract, as was Australia batsman David Warner.

Other notable omissions were Caribbean stars Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran.

One of the reasons for names like Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi not being part of the Hundred is that the 2022 tournament - which will be held between August 3 and September 22 - clashes with Pakistan's international assignments.

In the men's draft, Joe Clarke was the only English player to be selected in the first round, joining Welsh Fire from Manchester Originals for £125,000.

"To be second pick in the Hundred draft is really quite something," Clarke said. "I'm honoured that Welsh Fire have chosen me to join their side."

South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock was defending champions Southern Brave's first pick at the top-price mark.

Australia's T20 World Cup winner Matthew Wade was Birmingham Phoenix's top-round draft pick, with Kane Richardson taking the final overseas player spot, while Olly Stone was the team's choice in the second round.

The Hundred was launched to attract a younger audience to the game in England with eight city-based teams competing over five weeks. Matches comprise 100 balls per innings with a change of ends after 10 deliveries.

Southern Brave won the inaugural competition last year, comfortably beating Birmingham Phoenix in the men's final at Lord's after the Oval Invincibles won the women's crown.