Caribbean Premier League 2017 Discussion Thread

[Abdullah719]

A record number of local and international stars have been officially registered for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Player Draft which takes place on Friday, 10 March in Barbados.

In all, 258 players from across the Caribbean and most of the leading cricketing nations are in the frame to secure a coveted place in the tournament, which is this year scheduled to take place between 1 August and 9 September, with fixtures and dates to be announced in due course.

Commenting on this year’s list of applicants both in the West Indies and across the world, Director of International Cricket for CPL, Tom Moody said: “T20 is capturing the world of cricket by storm, and with the huge numbers of talented players from across the cricketing world eager to sign up to the biggest party in sport, I’ve no doubt that the 2017 season will be our best yet.

“In attracting the cream of international talent from a healthy blend of established and fast-developing nations, it extends the growing international appeal of the sport and of the Hero CPL itself, and I have no doubt that we are going to see a hugely contested Player Draft in Barbados on March 10th.”

There’s a strong list of West Indies talent who were both drafted and undrafted in 2016, including former Antigua Hawksbills and St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots star all-rounder Marlon Samuels who was the man of the match for the West Indies in their ICC World T20 final victory over England last year.

There will be 28 players from Australia in the Draft, an increase of six from the 2016 campaign, including a blend of experience in Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus and Brad Hogg allied to a crop of up-and-coming talent which includes leg-spinner Adam Zampa who was a star for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2016 season. A further 17 New Zealanders, including the likes of Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott and Jimmy Neesham, are also in the mix.

England have four players and included is T20 specialist fast bowler Tymal Mills, who made his T20 international debut for England against Sri Lanka last summer, and is an eye-catching addition amongst the contenders who will be aiming to secure a place in the Hero CPL for the first time. Ireland will have three representatives in the Draft.

Pakistan will have the highest representation in the Draft after increasing last year’s tally from 38 players to 46. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s rise in the shortest format of the game sees Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi named in a five-strong contingent who will also be hoping to make their tournament bows.

With the high-profile transfers of Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs to St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots) and Dwayne Smith (Guyana Amazon Warriors to Barbados Tridents) already confirmed, the list does not include those players who have been retained by their franchises. They, like the marquee players, will be announced at the Player Draft on March 10th.


Players Registered for 2017 Hero CPL Draft (253):

AFGHANISTAN (5): Rashid Khan, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, Asghar Stanikzai, Najibullah Zadran

AUSTRALIA (28): Sean Abbott, Fawad Ahmed, Tom Beaton, Michael Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Doug Bollinger, Cameron Boyce, Joe Burns, Ureshen Chinia, Tom Cooper, Ben Cutting, Ben Dunk, Cameron Gannon, Chris Green, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Nic Maddinson, Ben McDermott, Shaun Marsh, Ben Rohrer, Alex Ross, D’Arcy Short, Mark Steketee, Jake Weatherald, Adam Zampa

BANGLADESH (4): Tuskin Ahmed, Anamul Haque, Tamim Iqbal (St. Lucia Zouks), Mahmudullah Riad

CANADA (2): Rizwan Cheema, Ruvindu Gunasekera

ENGLAND (4): Recordo Gordon, Tymal Mills, Monty Panesar, Ashar Zaidi

IRELAND (3): George Dockrell (T&T Red Steel), Kevin O’Brien (T&T Red Steel), Niall O’Brien

NEW ZEALAND (17): Corey Anderson, Hamish Bennett, Tom Bruce, Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Anton Devcich (Trinbago Knight Riders), Grant Elliott (St. Lucia Zouks), Lachlan Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, Narun Nethula, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Hamish Rutherford, Jesse Ryder, Ish Sodhi, Anurag Verma, Ben Wheeler

OMAN (1): Sufyan Mehmood

PAKISTAN (46): Ehsan Adil, Tanwir Afzal, Iftikhar Ahmad, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Adnan Akmal, Kamran Akmal (T&T Red Steel), Umar Akmal (Trinbago Knight Riders), Fawad Alam, Anwar Ali, Hassan Ali, Rahat Ali, Umar Amin, Yasir Arafat, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Zulfiqar Babar, Bilawal Bhatti, Salman Butt, Asghar Durrani, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez, Mir Hamza, Faisal Iqbal, Muhammad Irfan, Imran Khalid, Imran Khan, Jr., Junaid Khan, Shadab Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Sohail Khan, Ahsan Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Ghulam Mudassar, Mohammed Nawaz, Sikandar Raza, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Sami, Asad Shafiq, Yasir Shah, Ahmad Shahzad (Jamaica Tallawahs & Barbados Tridents), Mohammad Shahzad, Hussain Talat, Misbah-ul-Haq, Amir Yamin

SOUTH AFRICA (16): Farhaan Behardien, Johan Botha, Dillon du Preez, Rob Frylinck, Beuran Hendricks, Eddie Leie, George Linde, Aiden Markram, Justin Ontong, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander (Jamaica Tallawahs), Dwaine Pretorius, Jon Jon Smuts (St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Grant Thomson, Shadley van Schalkwyk

SRI LANKA (19): Dushmantha Chameera, Niroshan Dickwella, Anuk Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Lahiru Kamara, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Farveez Maharoof, Jeevan Mendis (Barbados Tridents), Kausal Mendis, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ramith Rambukwelle, Gihan Rupasinghe, Sachithra Senanayake, Dusan Shanaka, Kaushal Silva, Milinda Siriwardana, Jeffrey Vandersay

USA (1): Zishawn Querishi

WEST INDIES – drafted in 2016 (26): Christopher Barnwell (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Sulieman Benn (Trinbago Knight Riders), Devendra Bishoo (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Nkrumah Bonner (Jamaica Tallawahs), Anthony Bramble (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Yannic Cariah (Trinbago Knight Riders), Derone Davis (T&T Red Steel & St. Lucia Zouks), Shannon Gabriel (St. Lucia Zouks), Kyle Hope (Barbados Tridents), Delorn Johnson (St. Lucia Zouks), Alzarri Joseph (St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Jeremiah Louis, Kyle Mayers (St. Lucia Zouks), Andre McCarthy (Jamaica Tallawahs), Ashley Nurse (Barbados Tridents), Orlando Peters (Antigua Hawksbills, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots & Guyana Amazon Warriors), Anderson Phillip (Trinbago Knight Riders), Gidron Pope (St. Lucia Zouks), Christopher Powell (Jamaica Tallawahs), Kristopher Ramsarran (St. Lucia Zouks), Krishmar Santokie (Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs & St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Lendl Simmons (Guyana Amazon Warriors & St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Navin Stewart (Guyana Amazon Warriors & Barbados Tridents), Steven Taylor (Barbados Tridents), Chadwick Walton (Jamaica Tallawahs), Paul Wintz (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

WEST INDIES – undrafted in 2016 (81): Nicholas Alexis, Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris (St. Lucia Zouks), Justin Athanaze (Antigua Hawksbills), Jonathan Augustus, Robin Bacchus, Tino Best (St. Lucia Zouks), Ansil Bhagan, Jermaine Blackwood (Jamaica Tallawahs), Travis Blyden, Justin Brathwaite, Gavan Brown, Odean Brown (Jamaica Tallawahs), John Campbell, Jon-Ross Campbell, Kellon Carmichael, Keacy Carty, Stephan Casey, Rajendra Chandrika, Derwin Christian, Rahkeem Cornwall (Antigua Hawksbills), Keron Cottoy (St. Lucia Zouks), Dane Currency, Marvin Darlington, Narsingh Deonarine (Jamaica Tallawahs), Akeem Dewar, Mark Deyal, Javelle Glen, Jyd Goolie, Nicholson Gordon, Derval Green, Trevon Griffith (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Jahmar Hamilton, Keon Harding, Jermain Harrison, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Alcindo Holder, Danza Hyatt, Damian Jacobs, Ricky Jaipaul, Amir Jangoo, Ray Jordan (St. Lucia Zouks), Keon Joseph, Kavesh Kantasingh, Richard Kelly, Brandon King, Christopher Lamont, Yannick Leonard, Reynard Leveridge, Kennar Lewis, Xavier Marshall, Marquino Mindley, Vikash Mohan, Gudakesh Motie, Raj Nannan, Ewart Nicholson, Ryan Nurse, Kjorn Ottley, Keemo Paul, Amit Persaud, Adelvin Phillip, Omar Phillips, Khary Pierre, Roshan Primus, Isaiah Rajah, Marlon Richards, Kemar Roach, Peat Salmon, Marlon Samuels (Antigua Hawksbills & St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Liam Sebastian (St. Lucia Zouks), Damani Sewell, Romario Shepherd, Gajanand Singh, Odean Smith, Kevin Stoute, Jacques Taylor, Gavin Tonge (Antigua Hawksbills), Ryan Wiggins, Tonito Willett, Gavin Williams, Oraine Williams

ZIMBABWE (4): Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Malcolm Waller


Squads :

Barbados Tridents
Kieron Pollard
Kane Williamson
Shoaib Malik
Dwayne Smith
Nicholas Pooran
Wayne Parnell
Ravi Rampaul
Wahab Riaz
Raymon Reifer
Christopher Barnwell
Imran Khan
Damion Jacobs
Akeal Hosein
Ryan Wiggins
Tino Best
Shamar Springer
Akeem Dodson

Guyana Amazon Warriors
Sohail Tanvir
Martin Guptill
Chadwick Walton
Rayad Emrit
Rashid Khan
Jason Mohammed
Steven Taylor
Veerasammy Permaul
Roshon Primus
Gajanand Singh
Assad Fudadin
Keon Joseph
Steven Jacobs
Steven Katwaroo
Shimron Hetmyer
Ali Khan
Babar Azam

Jamaica Tallawahs
Lendl Simmons
Kumar Sangakkara
Shakib Al Hasan
Imad Wasim
Mohammad Sami
Rovman Powell
Gidron Pope
Kesrick Williams
Garey Mathurin
Jon-Russ Jaggesar
Krishmar Santokie
Jonathan Foo
Kennar Lewis
Andre McCarthy
Odean Smith
Oshane Thomas
Timroy Allen

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
Chris Gayle
Chris Morris
Mohammad Nabi
Evin Lewis
Samuel Badree
Jonathan Carter
Tabraiz Shamsi
Brandon King
Devon Thomas
Sheldon Cottrell
Fabian Allen
Shamarh Brooks
Jeremiah Louis
Alzarri Joseph
Nikhil Dutta
Carlos Brathwaite
Mohammad Hafeez
Hasan Ali

St Lucia Stars
David Miller
Lasith Malinga
Shane Watson
Darren Sammy
Johnson Charles
Andre Fletcher
Jerome Taylor
Marlon Samuels
Kamran Akmal
Rahkeem Cornwall
Kyle Mayers
Shane Shillingford
Eddie Leie
Keddy Lesporis
Sunil Ambris
Obed McCoy
Timil Patel

Trinbago Knight Riders
Dwayne Bravo
Brendon McCullum
Sunil Narine
Hashim Amla
Darren Bravo
Denesh Ramdin
Colin Munro
Shadab Khan
Khary Pierre
Ronsford Beaton
Javon Searles
Nikita Miller
William Perkins
Kevon Cooper
Anderson Phillip
Hamza Tariq
Mehedi Hasan Miraz

 

[Syed1]

Pakistanis forming the bulk of overseas players, just like Windies are the bulk of overseas players in PSL



However, the Pakistani contingent has alot of unknown, TTF or has-been players, with only a few who are genuinely good.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

There are lot's of useless cricketers in that list

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Why is Mohammed Amir not there?

 

[Amirforpresident]

I wonder why Malik and Afridi aren't in that list.

 

[MMHS]

I wonder why Malik and Afridi aren't in that list.

Probably recurring (already contracted) players, don't see Sakib either in the list.

Amir is probably debt servicing for the over draft credit he took 6 years back.

 

[nighthawk23]

a 40 day tournament?!?! Unnecessarily long.

 

[Amirforpresident]

Probably recurring (already contracted) players, don't see Sakib either in the list.

Amir is probably debt servicing for the over draft credit he took 6 years back.

Thanks
And what does the second part mean about Amir.

 

[arch93]

Probably recurring (already contracted) players, don't see Sakib either in the list.

Amir is probably debt servicing for the over draft credit he took 6 years back.

You are right... Shakib, Sangakara and Imad have been retained by Jamaica Tallawahs.. not sure about Amir though

 

[Bewal Express]

I recognised everybody on the list bar Tanwir Afzal. Who is he?

 

[Abdullah719]

I recognised everybody on the list bar Tanwir Afzal. Who is he?

They seem to have included some overseas players of Pakistani origin in that list. Tanwir Afzal, Ahsan Malik, Sikandar Raza... even Mohammad Shahzad is thrown in at the end of the list.

 

[saeed5646]

I recognised everybody on the list bar Tanwir Afzal. Who is he?

Tanwir Afzal is a Hong Kong cricketer. He played for Hong Kong in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 tournament. He made his One Day International debut against Afghanistan in the 2014 ACC Premier League on 1 May 2014. Wikipedia
Born: 12 June 1988 (age 28 years), Gujrat City

 

[super hitter]

There are lot's of useless cricketers in that list

I wonder why Malik and Afridi aren't in that list.

these are the players who aren't retained, Afridi is never picked in CPL so he may have opted not to play.

 

[super hitter]

Hopefully Sohail Khan and Muhammad Amir gets picked...

and we have a series against WEST NDIES after PSl, is it gonna clash with CPL, don't think so.

 

[Asif321]

faisal iqbal? shafiq? adnan akmal?

 

[MMHS]

Thanks
And what does the second part mean about Amir.

His fixing issues ....

 

[MMHS]

these are the players who aren't retained, Afridi is never picked in CPL so he may have opted not to play.

I think, in some edition of CPL, Afridi went for 30 in one over against Ramdhin - probably he is a contracted player already.

 

[super hitter]

I think, in some edition of CPL, Afridi went for 30 in one over against Ramdhin - probably he is a contracted player already.

he was picked in the first edition I guess and after that, unpicked each time...

I can be wrong though.

 

[ataullah]

Shadab there mashAllah

 

[Smbhayi]

no Amla, No Afridi, Not Interested.

 

[Syed1]

Sohail Tanvir who was the MVP of the league last year isn't on the list either..

 

[Smbhayi]

he was picked in the first edition I guess and after that, unpicked each time...

I can be wrong though.

in One edition (when Afridi comeback and picks 7 wicket) he has a chat with Sammy's team but his demand was too high so they choose not to select him.

now on I guess Afridi only play NATWEST T20 and PSL!

 

[Slog]

Pakistanis forming the bulk of overseas players, just like Windies are the bulk of overseas players in PSL



However, the Pakistani contingent has alot of unknown, TTF or has-been players, with only a few who are genuinely good.

Wasay bhi pick kaun karay ga inhay

Technically every random aira ghaira can register for the draft

They seem to have included some overseas players of Pakistani origin in that list. Tanwir Afzal, Ahsan Malik, Sikandar Raza... even Mohammad Shahzad is thrown in at the end of the list.

Idea of Greater Pakistan :zh

 

[Syed1]

Idea of Greater Pakistan :zh

Akhand Pakistan

 

[Markhor]

We're touring Bangladesh during the CPL so many of our lads in the national team won't be able to participate.

 

[HitWicket]

in One edition (when Afridi comeback and picks 7 wicket) he has a chat with Sammy's team but his demand was too high so they choose not to select him.

now on I guess Afridi only play NATWEST T20 and PSL!

Doesn't sound to me like Hampshire are going to sign Afridi again for the T20 blast this year, interesting to see if someone else picks him up soon.

 

[Smbhayi]

Wasay bhi pick kaun karay ga inhay

Technically every random aira ghaira can register for the draft

did it cost anything? ie registration fee?

 

[Smbhayi]

Doesn't sound to me like Hampshire are going to sign Afridi again for the T20 blast this year, interesting to see if someone else picks him up soon.

well now on he'll be fully available so...

 

[ask_analyse_act]

no usama mir too..

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Sohail Tanvir who was the MVP of the league last year isn't on the list either..

It is written in the original post that retained players are not mentioned,so after his good performances in last edition,he must have been retained.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Why is Mohammed Amir not there?

Thanks
And what does the second part mean about Amir.

His fixing issues ....

Think he has a county contract with Essex at that time

 

[MMHS]

Think he has a county contract with Essex at that time

Yes, now I can recall.

 

[super hitter]

Another CPL and hopefully Sohail Khan gets selected this time!

The draft is tomorrow

 

[volcyz]

Draft is going to happen tomorrow.

 

[Pete Rose]

I think the CPL + BPL + PSL should consider some kind of merger.

 

[volcyz]

2017 ‘MARQUEE’ PLAYERS:

Martin Guptill (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Lasith Malinga (St. Lucia Stars), Brendon McCullum (Trinbago Knight Riders), Chris Morris (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Kumar Sangakkara (Jamaica Tallawahs), Kane Williamson (Barbados Tridents)

 

[Executioner]

Morris? Lol

 

[Slog]

I think the CPL + BPL + PSL should consider some kind of merger.

BPL is not same level

Though Pak bang and SL can have a merge league

 

[Syed1]

BPL is not same level

Though Pak bang and SL can have a merge league

Would you honestly drop whatever you are doing and watch a match between Dhaka and Colombo?


This merger werger business doesn't work.


We can have a triangular or quadrangular series where the winner of PSL, IPL, BPL and SLPL compete.

 

[Slog]

Would you honestly drop whatever you are doing and watch a match between Dhaka and Colombo?


This merger werger business doesn't work.


We can have a triangular or quadrangular series where the winner of PSL, IPL, BPL and SLPL compete.

Why do I need to watch all matches?

Have 10 teams with 2 groups

Pak - 4 teams - 2 in each group
Bang - 3 teams
SL - 3 teams

Top 2 of each group to semis

 

[MenInG]

Starts in 2 hours (10:00 am Barbados Time)

 

[in_cutter]

a 40 day tournament?!?! Unnecessarily long.

IPL says hello. The longest & the most boring of the lot.

 

[super hitter]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Round 1 Retained players!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPL17?src=hash">#CPL17</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPLDraft?src=hash">#CPLDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/yfoLgYPyem">pic.twitter.com/yfoLgYPyem</a></p>— CPL T20 (@CPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPL/status/840204245018263552">March 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

so tanvir gets retained for the biggest category

 

[super hitter]

chris gayle to st kits and nevis patriots

while

mr sohail the tanvir retained for amzon warriors

 

[super hitter]

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

They are picking players at as low as 4000 USD. Looks like this is gharibo ka premier league

 

[mhraja]

Tanvir has always been decent in these leagues and then flopped in both editions of PSL.

 

[mhraja]

Mohammad Sami for $70,000

 

[super hitter]

So Malik and Imad retained

 

[super hitter]

Mohammad Sami for $70,000

wanted to see wahab or sohail but well done sami!

 

[super hitter]

Well done afghani's

 

[mhraja]

wanted to see wahab or sohail but well done sami!

Wahab also selected for $30,000

 

[mhraja]

Shadab Khan at $30,000 for Trinbago Knight Riders

 

[nighthawk23]

Note to self: If your kid is into cricket, make sure they are an all-rounder.

 

[super hitter]

yeahhh...Wahab picked!

 

[nighthawk23]

Some nice extra cash for Kamran Akmal

 

[super hitter]

Wahab also selected for $30,000

not a good price for the champ but happy to see him!

Extremely overwhelmed with Shadab Khan's pick

 

[super hitter]

Some nice extra cash for Kamran Akmal

haha, wouldn't have been picked if it wasn't sammy!

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Kakmal is picked for only 15 k

 

[mhraja]

Kakmal is picked for only 15 k

Any extra cash is always welcome

 

[super hitter]

So...

 

[AFG_Brit]

Rashid khan 60 k and Mohamad nabi 90k.. great for them.

 

[Smbhayi]

IPL says hello. The longest & the most boring of the lot.

How's IPL most boring when it is the most watching Cricket league in the world?

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Is the draft over? I hope they pick Ahmed Shehzad for 3500 USD

 

[Executioner]

WTH some of the players were worth 4k? LMAO.

Surprised it's all Pakistani players in the CPL might as well change the name of tourney to CPPL.

CPL held in summer for England and subcontinent which explains the lack of players from other countries

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistani players bought at the CPL draft <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPLDraft?src=hash">#CPLDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/vB9vgj0pU9">pic.twitter.com/vB9vgj0pU9</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/840223000586797057">March 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

WTH some of the players were worth 4k? LMAO.

Surprised it's all Pakistani players in the CPL might as well change the name of tourney to CPPL.

CPL held in summer for England and subcontinent which explains the lack of players from other countries

They have picked players from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lankan and Afghanistan. That's pretty good. The only really missing are English players. Indian's don't play in any league.

 

[super hitter]

How's IPL most boring when it is the most watching Cricket league in the world?

most population=most watched

and runs no broad cast for PSL in India

 

[Dios]

Sohail Tanvir $160,000? Is this a joke?

 

[Hawkeye]

How's IPL most boring when it is the most watching Cricket league in the world?

People will obviously be jealous of the best league in the world. You have to realize that.

Though some genuinely feel it spans over a really long time.

 

[Syed1]

Sohail Tanvir $160,000? Is this a joke?

He was the MVP of the CPL last time round.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Tannu, what a legend. Respect.

 

[world cup captain]

Sohail Tanvir $160,000? Is this a joke?

He is a great T20 bowler. It's just people's unnecessary disliking of him which gives him the bad rep on the fourm.

 

[Syed1]

Tannu, what a legend. Respect.

Now that he has taken off his LQ jersey watch him be an ATG T20 bowler and master blaster with the bat. LMAO

 

[Square Drive]

Wow these players are barely making anything.

 

[Citizen4]

thank God Umar Akmal is not selected, he would play 1 good innings there and Inzi would keep him in the team despite zero performance

 

[Citizen4]

Imad for 90k seems cheap. he's worth at least 110k in CPL.
Number 4 ranked t20 bowler.

 

[choclate]

any news if there will be any CPL games in Florida this year?

 

[Abdullah719]

Hero CPL 2017 launches with eye-catching Draft

The fifth instalment of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) launched in spectacular fashion in Barbados on Friday morning as the Player Draft concluded with some eye-catching movement across all six franchises.

The great Sir Garfield Sobers joined the assembled guests, dignitaries, sponsors and international media to help launch the biggest party in sport.

This year each squad’s Player budget is $750,000 (USD). In addition to an unlimited group of retained players, once more there is a guaranteed roster spot for a Young West Indies emerging player as well as a representative from the ICC Americas, which ties in with one of the Hero CPL’s mandates of providing opportunities for young players across the Caribbean and north America.

Though each team was permitted to retain the core of their squad this year, it still allowed for some eye-catching transfers.

Amongst some of the notable acquisitions are that of Australian all-rounder Ben Cutting who has been recruited by St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, while West Indies ICC World T20 winner Marlon Samuels has joined the St. Lucia Stars. Samuels was not the only high profile Caribbean capture, with the Jamaica Tallawahs signing up batsman Lendl Simmons. Chadwick Walton has made the move, meanwhile, to Guyana Amazon Warriors and looks set to be a strong addition to their batting line-up.

For the first time ever, there will be an Afghanistan presence in the Hero CPL, with Mohammad Nabi (St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots) and Rashid Khan (Guyana Amazon Warriors) being snapped up. Barbados Tridents have also supplemented their bowling attack with the signing of Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz.

In addition to the high-profile acquisition of New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson, coupled with the return of Dwayne Smith following his transfer from Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Tridents have retained Pakistan’s Shaoib Malik and South African all-rounder Wayne Parnell as they bid to win the coveted title they last won in 2014. Kieron Pollard will lead an exciting team which includes wicket-keeper/batsman Nicholas Pooran, who impressed following his comeback from a long injury lay-off joined the likes of Ravi Rampaul and emerging West Indies player Shamar Springer for the forthcoming campaign.

Guyana Amazon Warriors have been one of the most consistent sides since the tournament’s inception in 2013 and that is reflected in the retention of a number of stalwarts including Black Caps opener Martin Guptill, in-form Australian batsman Chris Lynn and Pakistan’s towering left-armer Sohail Tanvir who was one of the most consistent performers in 2016 with bat and ball. In addition, the squad will include West Indies duo Rayad Emrit and Jason Mohammed, as well as exciting batsman Shimron Hetmyer who led the West Indies to the Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup title last year.

It will be a case of opportunity knocking for reigning champions, the Jamaica Tallawahs, who will be aiming for their third Hero CPL title. Rovman Powell was a standout player last year and the exuberance of youth will be balanced by a spine of a hat-trick of Asian talent in Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Pakistan’s Imad Wasim who have all been retained. USA international bowler Timroy Allen has also been retained as the ICC Americas representative.

St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots completed one of the most eye-catching transfers in the close season by acquiring the services of two-time champion Chris Gayle, and the powerful left-hander will join ‘marquee’ overseas signing Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris and his international colleague Tabraiz Shamsi in the Patriots squad. A string of local Caribbean talent will include influential leg-spinner Samuel Badree, Jonathan Carter, Kieran Powell and promising fast bowler Alzarri Joseph for what will be ICC World T20 winning coach Phil Simmons’ first season in charge of the ambitious Patriots. Carlos Brathwaite has been retained as a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) ‘Free’ Player, who are players either contracted to the WICB, or, likely to be selected by the WICB for international duty.

St. Lucia Stars will once again be led by charismatic leader Daren Sammy and they will welcome back South African batsman David Miller and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson to the fold. Recently re-named and under new ownership, the Stars will also welcome Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga for a squad brimming with quality. Local favourite Johnson Charles was a strong performer at the top of the order last year and he will line up once more alongside the likes of Andre Fletcher, Shane Shillingford and Jerome Taylor.

2015 champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have opted to retain all but three of last year’s squad and will once more by led by Dwayne ‘DJ’ Bravo. TKR will look to the guile of Sunil Narine while Darren Bravo will firm up a batting line-up which includes ‘marquee’ player Brendon McCullum, who will be joined again by fellow Black Cap Colin Munro. South Africa’s Hashim Amla also returns to the panel who will be coached by Australian Simon Katich.

2017 HERO CPL SQUADS:

BARBADOS TRIDENTS: Kieron Pollard, Kane Williamson*, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Smith, Nicholas Pooran, Wayne Parnell, Ravi Rampaul, Wahab Riaz, Raymond Reifer, Christopher Barnwell, Imran Khan, Damian Jacobs, Akeal Hosein, Ryan Wiggins, Tino Best, Shamar Springer (Young W.I.), Akeem Dolton (ICC Americas)

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS: Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill*, Chadwick Walton, Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Rashid Khan, Jason Mohammed, Steven Taylor, Veerasammy Permaul, Roshan Primus, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Keon Joseph, Steven Jacobs, Steven Ketwaroo, Shimron Hetmeyer (Young W.I.), Muhammad Ali Khan (ICC Americas)

JAMAICA TALLAWAHS: Lendl Simmons, Kumar Sangakkara*, Shakib Al Hasan, Imad Wasim, Muhammad Sami, Rovman Powell, Gidron Pope, Kesrick Williams, Garey Mathurin, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Krishmar Santokie, Jonathan Foo, Kennar Lewis, Andre McCarthy, Odean Smith, O’Shane Thomas (Young W.I.), Timroy Allen (ICC Americas)

ST. KITTS & NEVIS PATRIOTS: Chris Gayle, Chris Morris*, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Nabi, Evin Lewis, Samuel Badree, Jonathan Carter, Tabraiz Shamsi, Brandon King, Devon Thomas, Sheldon Cotterell, Kieran Powell, Fabian Allen, Shamarh Brooks, Jeremiah Louis, Alzarri Joseph (Young W.I.), Nikhil Dutta (ICC Americas), Carlos Brathwaite (WICB ‘Free’)

ST. LUCIA STARS: David Miller, Lasith Malinga*, Shane Watson, Daren Sammy, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Jerome Taylor, Marlon Samuels, Kamran Akmal, Rakheem Cornwall, Kyle Mayers, Shane Shillingford, Eddie Leie, Keddy Lesporis, Sunil Ambris, Obed McCoy (Young W.I.), Timal Patel (ICC Americas)

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS: Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum*, Sunil Narine, Hashim Amla, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan, Khary Pierre, Ronsford Beaton, Javon Searles, Nikita Miller, William Perkins, Kevon Cooper, Brad Hogg, Anderson Phillip (Young W.I.), Hamza Tariq (ICC Americas)

*Denotes ‘marquee’ player

 

[ask_analyse_act]

thank God Umar Akmal is not selected, he would play 1 good innings there and Inzi would keep him in the team despite zero performance

Exactly very happy to see that ... UA, AS and HAFEEZ... If CPL can see them as finished why cant PCB and Inzi...