Gayle snubbed in UK’s The Hundred draft

Hard-hitting Jamaican left-hander Chris Gayle was one of many big-name West Indian omissions following the draft for next year's inaugural The Hundred cricket tournament to be staged in the UK.

The 'Universe Boss', Gayle, was one of the top-bracket overseas players who were overlooked in the first round along with Sri Lankan seamer Lasith Malinga.

Jamaican all-rounder Andre Russell was, however, one of the first-round selections, as he was picked up by the Southern Brave for PS125,000. Trinidadian spinner Sunil Narine was also snapped up in the first round by the Oval Invincibles, also for PS125,000.

The other West Indian cricketers to be drafted are Jamaican all-rounder Fabian Allen, who was picked up by the Oval Invincibles in round five for PS50,000 and Trinidadian Ravi Rampaul, who will turn out for the Welsh Fire at a base price of PS75,000.

Alongside Gayle and Malinga, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada was overlooked in the PS125,000 bracket, while the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Trent Boult missed out on the PS100,000 slots.

The Hundred is the title of a professional 100-ball cricket tournament in England and Wales run by the ECB, commencing in July 2020. The league will consist of eight city-based franchise teams, each of which will field both a men's and women's team.

The teams are Trent Rockets, Southern Brave, Northern Super Chargers, Welsh Fire, Oval Invincibles, Manchester Originals, London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix.