The Hundred draft shifted by a week due to clash with Shane Warne's funeral

The Hundred draft scheduled to be conducted on March 29 has been delayed by a week due to its clash with Australian veteran spinner Shane Warne’s state funeral. The legendary spinner breathed his last on March 4 while he was in Thailand. Warne will be given a public farewell at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 30, with 50,000 free tickets available in a public ballot.

The Hundred draft was expected to take place on March 29, with the results announced the next day. However, It will now be conducted on April 4, with the picks to be revealed on April 5. New signings and player trades for the women’s Hundred will also be announced on the same day.

According to ESPNCricinfo, the event will take place behind closed doors just like the previous year as several team head coaches will be involved in 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). To note, the first players draft in October 2019 was broadcast live in London. However, it was held remotely last year as well.

Shane Warne was the coach of London Spirit in the inaugural season

Legendary spinner Shane Warne was the coach of London Spirit’s men’s team during the first season of the Hundred in 2021. However, the leg-spinner missed most part of the competition after coming out Covid-19 positive. Warne was due to return for a second stint in 2022.

To note, London Spirit will make the first pick in the draft, with the coach Warne suggesting shortly before his sudden death that Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh could be the first pick for the team in the draft.

London Spirit’s general manager Fraser Stewart also released an official statement from the side after Warne’s death describing him as “a true icon”. The Spirits are yet to name a replacement as head coach. David Ripley and Dimitri Mascarenhas who have been serving as assistant coaches in last year edition are the strong candidates to take over the role.