'Pehle desh ata hain' - Fans react as two star wicketkeeper-batters pull out of Big Bash League 2023 draft

The explosive wicket-keeper batters Nicholas Pooran and Mohammad Rizwan have withdrawn their names from the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) draft list due to International commitment. Both wicketkeeper-batters are proven in the T20 format and were set to be platinum picks in the draft event.

With Rizwan full participation in the T20 league was always doubtful, considering Pakistan's three-Test series in Australia during the first month of the league. But with Pooran's withdrawal, it comes to the fans to a bit surprised as he had no recent commitments for the national side.

Mohammad Rizwan and Nicholas Pooran opted out of BBL

Both the wicket-keeper batters, who have combined for a total of 165 T20Is, had been ranked among the 25 most elite international players of the 376 that were nominated for Sunday's draft. The West Indies batter played for the Melbourne Stars in the 2020/21 BBL and has been in red-hot form in the shortest format. He scored a century in the final of the Major League Cricket (MLC) and was also the Player of the Series in West Indies' recent T20I series win against India. While Rizwan is yet to make a debut in the Australian league. He has been among the consistent T20 batters over the past few years. The wicket-keeper batter averages an incredible 49.07 in 85 T20Is, with a century and 25 half-centuries.

On the other hand veteran South African all-rounder Dane van Niekerk has pulled out of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) due to the fractured right thumb she suffered during the recent women's Hundred. But the BBL told media that scheduling conflicts had forced West Indies' Pooran and Pakistan's Rizwan to make last-minute exits from the tournament that begins on December 7. The players will not be replaced in the platinum draft, which will have a total of 23 players. The drafts for both men and women will take place on Sunday, September 3, with the 9th edition of the WBBL set to be played from October 19 to December 2 and the 13th BBL edition from December 7 to January 24.

Here's how fans reacted

A West Indian Making himself available for his country is rare sight.

— Talk Before Wicket (@TalkB4Wicket) September 1, 2023

Rizwan setting example man.

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) September 1, 2023

Their recent explosive form and match-winning innings will be missed. Shows the growing demands of international cricket clashing with franchise leagues.

— Jiten Patel (@JitenHQ) September 1, 2023

National duty comes first.

— 🤡 (@HrithiksAvenger) September 1, 2023

Good,

Play international matches first, keep playing home league matches later.

— अमित तिवारी (@imamitkrtiwari) September 1, 2023

Great👏👏

— Bala⁴⁵Rohit (@bala45_rohit) September 1, 2023

I only care about Pooran 🙏

— Gyani Khopdi (@gyaniKhopdi) September 1, 2023

Good Decision

— Felix Makwana (@felixmakwana) September 1, 2023