Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan takes the honours as first draft pick in The Hundred

Australia players dominate inaugural event in London, while Gayle, Malinga and Bravo are big names who failed to be picked up

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Afghanistan leg-spin king Rashid Khan became the first overseas player picked for the inaugural The Hundred competition being held next year, but Twenty20 stalwarts Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga and Dwayne Bravo were among notable omissions in Sunday's draft.

Next year's debut edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board's 100-ball tournament took its biggest step yet towards becoming a reality, with the eight city-based franchises signing the bulk of their squads in a live televised event in a neon-lit London studio.

Rashid, the No 1 T20 bowler, was snared by Trent Rockets for the top price of £125,000 (Dh593,250). Apart from Rashid, other Afghan spinners in the tournament include Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Superchargers), Mohammad Nabi (Spirit) and Qais Ahmed (Welsh Fire).

Australian players dominated the first major player draft in British sport with batting mainstay Steve Smith and quick Mitchell Starc picked up by Welsh Fire for £125,000 each.

With one England Test star and two 'local icons' already allocated, the teams picked up 12 players apiece including three overseas names.

David Warner joined Southern Brave who also picked explosive West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell.

Australia's limited overs captain Aaron Finch joined Northern Superchargers, while team mate Glenn Maxwell was snared by London Spirit.

The overlooked trio represented a changing of the guard. Gayle is the leading run-scorer in all T20 cricket, while Bravo and Malinga are the format's top two wicket-takers, but all three franchise regulars were passed over as coaches looked elsewhere for their big-money selections.

Shane Warne, head coach of London Spirit, suggested Gayle and Malinga were left in the cold because they had over-reached.

"I think they priced themselves wrong," he said. "If they'd gone in at £100,000 and not £125,000, I think they'd have been picked up."

Just 96 players were selected from a field of 571, with Lancashire all-rounder Liam Livingstone the only Englishman cashing in at the top price.

Manchester Originals, coached by Simon Katich, drew raised eyebrows when they went for the relatively unheralded South African wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Vilas at the maximum reserve.