Sarfaraz Ahmed, Martin Guptill and Rassie van der Dussen. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The maiden Lanka Premier League (LPL) auction took place successfully at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo on June 14. At the blockbuster business event, Dilshan Madushanka got signed up for $92000 by Jaffna Kings and emerged as the most expensive player.
Along with him, other Sri Lankan players such as Charith Asalanka ($80000), Binura Fernando ($76000), and Dhananjaya de Silva ($76000) also got a hefty amount and made it to the list of most expensive players at the auction.
Among overseas players, Chad Bowes became the most expensive buy at $58000. The amazing auction brought cheers to the faces of these players while for some veterans, the event didn’t go well as they failed to find buyers and broke into the list of unsold players. Noting the experience and calibre of these old hands, it could be said that these players could’ve been perfect additions to any squad but at the end of the day, their records failed to attract bids.
Here are the top five overseas players who went unsold at the LPL 2023 auction
5. Rassie van der Dussen
Rassie van der Dussen. (Photo by Anesh Dibiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen failed to get picked up at the LPL 2023 auction, despite his huge experience in T20 Internationals and domestic T20 cricket. However, his performance in T20Is is not at all consistent for his national team South Africa. So far, in his T20I career, Dussen has scored 1044 runs in 37 innings of 41 T20Is at an underwhelming strike rate of 128.71.
This year, Islamabad United included him in their squad due to Moeen Ali’s unavailability in the competition. In the absence of England’s star player, Dussen scored only 148 runs in six matches for Islamabad, at a disappointing strike rate of 127.58. Earlier, he failed to be effective for MI Cape Town in his country’s SA20 League.
Scoring 243 runs with a half-century in 10 matches at a strike rate of 122.11, he ended up becoming the leading run-scorer in MI’s failed campaign but couldn’t justify his role in the team.
4. Sarfaraz Ahmed
Sarfaraz Ahmed. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed had registered for the LPL auction but couldn’t convince buyers to get picked up for the upcoming tournament. Sarfaraz could’ve helped any franchise in the league with his vast experience and skills. Currently, he isn’t a part of Pakistan’s T20 International squad and this factor played a crucial role in his unsuccess at the LPL auction.
Along with that, his dismal performance in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 is another factor that convinced the bidders to not raise their paddles for him. In 2023 PSL, the wicketkeeper batter scored only 162 runs for Quetta Gladiators (QG) in eight games at an underwhelming strike rate of 104.51.
The 36-year-old’s T20I record for Pakistan isn’t also something to celebrate. In his 13-year T20I career, Sarafaraz has played 61 matches, in which he has scored only 818 runs with three half-centuries in 42 innings at an unhealthy strike rate of 125.26.
3. Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill 237* vs Windies. (Photo Source: Twitter)
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill is known for his ferocious batting style in T20 Internationals. With his skills and diligence, he is currently the top scorer for the Kiwis in the shortest format of the game. In his T20 international career, Guptill has racked up 3531 runs with a couple of tons and 20 fifties in 118 innings of 122 T20Is, at a strike rate of 135.70. Considering these numbers, any team will be enticed to have the veteran in its side.
However, at the LPL 2023 auction, Guptill’s name was ineffective in attracting buyers. This year, he participated in PSL and served Quetta Gladiators efficiently with his bat, scoring 310 runs with a ton and half-century in nine innings of nine matches at an excellent strike rate of 150.48.
Despite his perfect campaign in PSL, the franchises in LPL ignored his name at the auction. The dashing New Zealand batter hasn’t featured in New Zealand colours since October 2022 and this fact could’ve severely impacted his chances of getting sold at the business event in Colombo. Along with that, his age factor could also have made the matter worse.
2. Sikandar Raza
Sikandar Raza. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The Zimbabwe player Sikandar Raza is a reliable all-round figure in T20 Internationals. With his exceptional talent, the veteran has strived to uplift the standard of Zimbabwe cricket in T20Is. In the shortest form of the sport, Raza has notched up 1259 runs and 38 wickets in 66 T20Is.
In 2022, he looked at his best with the bat, amassing 735 runs in 23 innings in 24 T20Is, at a stunning strike rate of 150.92. This year, Raza also made his IPL debut for Punjab Kings (PBKS). Serving the 2014 IPL runners-up Punjab Kings, the 37-year-old chipped in with 139 runs from his bat in seven matches, at a strike rate of 141.84.
These spectacular performances of Raza could’ve made him one of the most sought-after players at the LPL 2023 auction. However, that didn’t happen as no franchise showed interest in the Zimbabwe stalwart despite his scintillating form in the T20 format.
1. Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Hafeez. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Hafeez made it to the list of unsold players in the 2023 LPL auction, along with the wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed. Hafeez, who is the third leading run-scorer for Pakistan in T20 Internationals (T20Is), has proven himself in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
With 1731 runs in 74 innings of 78 games, the former Pakistan stalwart is the seventh-highest run-scorer in his country’s T20 league. This year, he failed to be impactful for Quetta Gladiators, scoring only 135 runs in six innings of seven matches at a strike rate of 150.00, with the best performance of 48 against Islamabad United.
Noting Hafeez’s flop shows with the bat in PSL, the franchises might’ve hesitated to invest in him. Along with the performance, the veteran’s age could also have hampered his chances to get a buyer at the successful business event in Colombo.