The Australian opener, David Warner is amongst the first big-name overseas player to withdraw from The Hundred tournament, as per the reports of The Sydney Morning Herald, amid the coronavirus pandemic that grips world sport. Warner’s decision to pull out of the competition is said to be unrelated to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Warner’s manager James Erskine said that the Australian opening batsman has instead chosen to make himself available for the one-day international series against Zimbabwe which is scheduled to take place in August. His manager said, “David Warner has pulled out of the Hundred in what could be the first of multiple withdrawals from England’s new franchise league by international players as the coronavirus pandemic grips world sport.”

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That three-match series with Zimbabwe could clash with The Hundred, with the inaugural season of the new, 100-ball-a-side format scheduled to take place between July 17 to August 15 – although a delay to the competition is likely amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Warner as drafted by Southern Brave last October, picking up the maximum fee of £125,000, where he was set to play alongside fellow overseas players like Andre Russell and Shadab Khan, as well as England’s Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan and Ollie Pope.

The Hundred has reportedly been identified as a priority for the ECB, along with international cricket and the T20 Blast tournament. However, according to the current reports, it will now be facing some financial impact due to the pandemic along with the English cricketing summer schedule.

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The ECB is facing the possibility of the County Championship, scheduled to start on April 12, being pushed back, while England’s home Test series against West Indies starting in June also seems to be in jeopardy.