Welsh Fire (WEF) failed to win a single game in the 2022 edition of the men's Hundred and finished last on the points table. They lost all eight of their league matches. Under a new head coach in Mike Hussey, the Tom Abell-led side has had a decent start to the season and will hope to build on the good start as the tournament rolls on.
Pakistani pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf have shown good form with the ball for Welsh Fire as they have picked up five and three wickets, respectively, in three games thus far. However, they have been picked in Pakistan's side for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan that is to be held in Sri Lanka later this month.
The first ODI is scheduled to be played on August 22. Therefore, Shaheen and Haris are expected to feature in the upcoming three games for WEF before leaving for Sri Lanka. If that is the case, the two prolific bowlers will be missing the final two league games on August 20 and August 22.
As per ESPNcricinfo, WEF have already zeroed in on the replacements for Shaheen and Rauf. The Kiwi pace duo of Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry will fill in for Afridi and Haris in the later half of the tournament. New Zealand are scheduled to travel to Dubai to play a three-match T20I series against the UAE between August 17-20. However, Henry had informed NZC that he won't be available for the series as he was expecting a call-up as a replacement in the Hundred. Ferguson is a part of the squad but may be pulled out at the last moment.
Welsh Fire are placed fourth on the table
Tom Abell and Co. began their campaign with a tight nine-run victory against Manchester Originals in a rain-curtailed affair. The side followed it up with another thrilling game against Southern Brave, but this time, they lost by two runs. The third game against Oval Invincibles ended in a tie.
Welsh Fire will play their fourth game against Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Thursday, August 10.
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