CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Two-time champions Barbados Royals (formerly Tridents) and 2021 champions St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have confirmed their retained players for this year’s Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament.
CPL organisers announced yesterday that several players currently featuring in the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States for West Indies and visiting teams are named in the two sides that will feature in the coming season scheduled to played from August 29 to October 6.
The Royals have retained 14 players for the coming season, including West Indies Twenty20 International captain Rovman Powell, and T20 World Cup teammate and left-arm pacer Obed McCoy, and they will have three spots to fill at the CPL Draft in July.
Hugely experienced all-rounder Jason Holder, a late withdrawal from the World Cup squad, and left-arm pace bowling compatriot Ramon Simmonds are also returning for the Royals.
Explosive South Africa batting duo, Quinton De Kock and David Miller will headline the foreign contingent for the Royals, along with left-arm spin bowling national teammate, Keshav Maharaj.
Sri Lanka off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana and Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq complete the foreign talent list confirmed at this time.
In addition, the Royals have also retained burly off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, whose epic bat drop after scoring a scintillating hundred against the Patriots last season at Kensington Oval blew up social media.
West Indies left-handed batsman Alick Athanaze, Cricket West Indies Academy captain Nyeem Young, and former West Indies Under-19 pair of Kevin Wickham and Rivaldo Clarke have also made the cut.
The Patriots confirmed that 13 players will be retained from last season, and they will have four spots to fill in the Draft, and they will be hoping for far better results.
West Indies World Cup duo of Sherfane Rutherford and Andre Fletcher have been included, and out-of-favour international opener, Evin Lewis also makes the cut.
The Patriots have also secured the services of Jamaican pacer Odean Smith, who has transferred from reigning champions, Guyana Amazon Warriors, as well as left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes, son of former Barbados and West Indies all-rounder Vasbert Drakes and Test wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva.
Cricket West Indies duo of left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd and fast bowler Johann Layne complete the Caribbean talent list for the Patriots.
Exciting South Africa batting duo of Rilee Rossouw and Tristan Stubbs are two members of the foreign contingent for the Patriots that also includes leg-spin bowling Sri Lanka World Cup captain Wanindu Hasaranga, his pace bowling teammate Nuwan Thusara, and Zimbabwe international Sikandar Raza, who captained the St Lucia Kings in a few matches last season.
