The Hundred 2023 draft: Sophia Dunkley and Afridi sign for Welsh Fire

Pakistan pace pair Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, all-rounder David Willey and England batter Sophia Dunkley are all heading to Cardiff for this year’s Hundred as Welsh Fire rebuilt their underperforming teams at the 2023 draft.

Fire finished bottom in the men’s and women’s tournaments last year and cleared the decks during the recent retention period, retaining skeleton squads as they dominated a trolley dash that was carried live on television for the first time since the inaugural draft in 2019.

The men’s side landed three overseas stars, with the electric Afridi signed for £100,000 before the new head coach Mike Hussey splashed another £75,000 on his compatriot Rauf. The duo are both capable of clearing 90mph and were picked up despite some uncertainty over their international commitments during the tournament.

New Zealand’s six-hitting specialist Glenn Phillips is also bound for Sophia Gardens, while the Somerset captain Tom Abell and the experienced Willey both landed maximum £125,000 contracts and will become immediate dressing room leaders at a team that looked rudderless during a winless campaign in 2022.

“It’s pace like fire for the Welsh Fire with Haris Rauf joining Shaheen and then you throw in Phillips, who smashes it out of the ground,” said the former England captain Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports.

“They are looking much, much stronger and have made some really good signings. They’re starting again and they’re doing it with pace and power-hitting.”

In the women’s competition, Dunkley was signed up as the Fire’s first pick in the top band of £31,250. Gareth Breese’s side initially made moves for Kiwi Sophie Devine and England opener Danni Wyatt, but they headed back to Birmingham Phoenix and Southern