Reports: Babar Azam was unwilling to play The Hundred 2022

Much to everyone’s surprise, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam went unsold at The Hundred 2022 Draft on April 5 (Tuesday) in the United Kingdom (UK). Fans, along with cricket experts, were shocked to see the prolific batter not receiving a contract. However, a report has emerged now, stating that Babar was himself not keen to play due to Pakistan’s upcoming international assignments.

The Pakistani skipper was among the few players who placed themselves in the highest category of £125,000 for the Men’s Hundred 2022 Draft. To note, a total of eight teams participated in the draft, but no one signed the No. 1 T20I batter.

Babar Azam never applied for the NOC: Reports

According to reports, the right-handed batter never expressed his desire to be a part of The Hundred competition. Babar wished to stay fresh for international matches. As a result, none of the teams went for the prolific batter during the event.

“Babar Azam never applied for the NOC for the English summer. That means he is not interested despite being one of the few overseas who are bracketed among the top category,” a source told The News.

“He could have walked easily in any team as every English county was looking forward to luring him. Yet he preferred to stay away from hectic commitments more in order to concentrate fully on the national summer commitment,” the source added.

Talking about Babar’s numbers in T20I cricket, the right-handed batter has played 74 matches in which he has amassed 2686 runs at an excellent average of 45.53. The 27-year-old plays with a strike rate of almost 130 and has stroked 26 half-centuries and one century in the 20-over format.

Meanwhile, Pakistan recently hosted West Indies and Australia, apart from organizing the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Men in Green are scheduled to play several international matches in the second half of the year as well. Pakistan will take on West Indies, the Netherlands, and Sri Lanka in the upcoming months.