In a shocking turn of events, West Indies star Nicholas Pooran has withdrawn from Sunday's Big Bash League (BBL) draft. Pooran, known for his explosive batting and wicket-keeping skills, was expected to be one of the top picks of the draft, having been elevated to Platinum status.

The West Indies cricketer's withdrawal, alongside Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, has left BBL fans and team owners puzzled. Both Pooran and Rizwan were expected to be highly sought after in the draft, but their sudden decisions to opt out have raised questions about their availability for the entire season.

While the reasons for their withdrawals remain unclear, it's been revealed that Pooran is already contracted to a franchise in the UAE's ILT20 competition. This competition is scheduled to kick off on January 19, coinciding with the BBL finals, making it impossible for Pooran to participate in the Australian league.

As for Rizwan, who is set to play a crucial role for Pakistan in this summer's Test series against Australia, his availability for the BBL would have been delayed until after the conclusion of that series. Pakistan was scheduled to face New Zealand in T20 matches starting from January 12, further complicating Rizwan's participation in the BBL.

The withdrawal of these two explosive wicketkeeper-batters has left a void in the BBL draft. This year's draft has already seen other notable withdrawals, including South Africa star Dane van Niekerk, who is still recovering from an injury sustained while playing in the Hundred tournament in the UK.

The BBL draft is set to feature 495 players from both the BBL and WBBL, and it will be televised for fans around the world to witness. Among the 23 remaining BBL players elevated to Platinum status, only England quick Tymal Mills has confirmed his full availability for the regular season and finals.

The availability of several players has been affected by international commitments. England's T20 team is scheduled to tour the Caribbean, with the final match taking place on December 22. Meanwhile, the South African T20 competition is set to commence on January 10, and the UAE league further complicates the schedules of many players, resulting in most of them committing to "6-9 games."

With the draft just around the corner, fans and team owners will be keeping a close eye on the remaining West Indies players listed in the BBL draft. These players will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the upcoming season and fill the void left by the withdrawals of Pooran and Rizwan.

 West Indies players remaining in the BBL draft:

Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Ronsford Beaton, Joshua Bishop, Nkrumah Bonner, Carlos Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Kofi James, Amir Jangoo, Evin Lewis, Kennar Lewis, Jair McAllister, Gudakesh Motie, Ashmead Nedd, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Roshon Primus, Ray Reiror, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds, Kevin Sinclair, Shamar Spinror, Oshane Thomas, Chadwick Walton, Hayden Walsh Jr., Kevin Wickham and Nyeem Young.