CPL 2022: Squad Preview and Probable Playing XI
Rario is launching the first set of Player Cards on the 15th of July, featuring players from all the participating teams of the CPL. These cards will be minted in three tiers viz black, gold and silver. Black is the top category, featuring the most exclusive cards followed by gold and then silver. Also, Rario is coming up with a fantastic new “Cricket Strategy Game” which will be launched in partnership with Dream Sports. The game will go live with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The CPL will thus become the first-ever cricket league to launch an officially licensed web-3 play-to-earn game.
The last season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) turned out to be a highly competitive one with almost every team fighting till the very end. However, it was St Kitts & Nevis Patriots who lifted the title by overpowering St Lucia Kings in the final.
Now, as the tenth edition of CPL is scheduled to start on August 30, the conversation has again moved to, “Which team will win the trophy this time?” While it is really tough to predict at the moment, we would take you through the squads of all the franchises to give you an idea of which team looks strongest on paper:
Jamaica Tallawahs
Tallawahs had a disappointing CPL 9 as they managed to win only 4 out of the 10 games, finishing at fifth place on the points table. But as they say ‘after every dawn, there is a rise’, Tallawahs would be hoping to turn around their fortunes in the upcoming edition.
Major Developments in the squad: Tallawahs have signed Pakistani pacer Mohammed Amir to strengthen their pace attack. Amir has been around for a long time and his experience would surely help Jamaica this year. The addition of all-rounders like Imad Wasim, Fabian Allen and Chris Green are going to give this side the freedom to explore their options in both the departments.
Who’s missing?: Jamaica would be without their last season’s star Andre Russell as they
couldn’t get him in the draft. They will also miss the services of another explosive all-rounder, Carlos Braithwaite.
Squad: ROVMAN POWELL, SANDEEP LAMICHHANE, FABIAN ALLEN, IMAD WASIM, BRANDON KING, KENNAR LEWIS, MOHAMMAD AMIR, SHAMARH BROOKS, MIGAEL PRETORIUS, CHRIS GREEN, RAYMON REIFER, JAMIE MERCHANT, AMIR JANGOO, SHAMAR SPRINGER, NICHOLSON GORDON, KIRK MCKENZIE, JOSHUA JAMES
Probable Playing XI: Shamarh Brooks (batter), Brandon King (batter), Amir Jangoo (wk/batter), Rovman Powell (all-rounder), Raymon Reifer (all-rounder), Fabian Allen (all-rounder), Chris Green ( all-rounder), Sandeep Lamichhane (bowler), Jamie Merchant (bowler), Mohammad Amir (bowler), Migael Pretorius (bowler)
St Lucia Kings
The runners-up of last season, St Lucia Kings, played some top-class cricket in CPL 9. However, they couldn’t finish on top. But they would surely carry the confidence going into the upcoming season.
Major Developments in the squad: Kings would be elated to have experienced all-rounder David Wiese in the squad. Wiese has shown his all-round ability in almost every tournament he has played lately.
Who’s missing?: Andre Fletcher and Obed McCoy, who are both handy players, won’t be a part of the Kings’ contingent this time around.
Squad: FAF DU PLESSIS, TIM DAVID, ROSTON CHASE, JOHNSON CHARLES, KESRICK WILLIAMS, DAVID WIESE, ALZARRI JOSEPH, SCOTT KUGGELEIJN, MARK DEYAL, JEAVOR ROYAL, MATTHEW FORDE, LEROY LUGG, PRESTON MCSWEEN, LARRY EDWARDS, ACKEEM AUGUSTE, RIVALDO CLARKE
Probable Playing XI: Faf du Plessis (batter), Johnson Charles (batter), Rivaldo Clarke (wk/batter), Ackeem August (batter), Mark Deyal (batter), Roston Chase (all-rounder), Tim David (batter), David Wiese (all-rounder), Kesrick Williams (bowler), Scott Kuggeleijn (bowler), Alzarri Joseph (bowler)
Tribango Knight Riders
Tribango Knight Riders (TKR) was the most impressive team in the league stages of CPL last year. They finished on top with 6 wins to their name in 10 games. But they were eliminated in the semi-finals. Can they go further this year? Well, let’s take a look at their squad:
Major Developments in the squad: The inclusion of Andre Russell is the most exciting piece of news for TKR. Russell is one of the most dangerous all-rounders in world cricket today and any team would want him on their side. Knight Riders will also be happy to acquire Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana.
Who’s missing?: TKR will be without last season’s highest wicket-taker of CPL, Ravi Rampaul; otherwise, they have retained most of their core.
Squad: KIERON POLLARD, ANDRE RUSSELL, SUNIL NARINE, NICHOLAS POORAN, COLIN MUNRO, AKEAL HOSEIN, MAHEESH THEEKSHANA, TIM SEIFERT, SEEKKUGE PRASANNA, JAYDEN SEALES, ALI KHAN, TION WEBSTER, KHARY PIERRE, ANDERSON PHILLIP, TERRENCE HINDS, LEONARDO JULIEN, SHAARON LEWIS
Probable Playing XI: Colin Munro (batter), Sunil Narine (all-rounder), Tion Webster (batter), Nicholas Pooran (wk/batter), Tim Seifert (batter), Kieron Pollard (all-rounder), Andre Russell (all-rounder), Akeal Hosein (all-rounder), Jayden Seals (bowler), Maheesh Theekshana (bowler), Ali Khan (bowler)
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
The champions of CPL 9 will be eager to defend their title this year, thanks to some top signings they have made ahead of the tournament. Nonetheless, with other teams also set up strongly, it won’t be an easy task for Dwanye Bravo’s men.
Major Developments in the squad: The Patriots have signed Sri Lanka’s spin sensation Wanindu Hasaranga and young South African batter Dewald Brevis for CPL 2022. Hasaranga has been phenomenal with the ball in recent times while Brevis has also made a mark in a very short time. Hasaranga though would only be available after September 11.
Who’s missing?: Three experienced campaigners Chris Gayle, Ravi Bopara and Asif Ali won’t be a part of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots contingent this season. How they fill the voids created by these three would be interesting to watch.
Squad: DWAYNE BRAVO, EVIN LEWIS, ANDRE FLETCHER, WANINDU HASARANGA *(AFTER 11 SEP), SHERFANE RUTHERFORD, DWAINE PRETORIUS, DARREN BRAVO, SHELDON COTTRELL, DOMINIC DRAKES, DEWALD BREVIS, IZHARULHAQ NAVEED , JOSHUA DA SILVA, JON RUS JAGGESAR, KEACY CARTY, KELVIN PITTMAN, JADEN CARMICHAEL
Probable Playing XI: Evin Lewis (batter), Andre Fletcher (batter), Darren Bravo (batter), Dewald Brevis (batter), Keacy Karty (batter), Sherfane Rutherford (all-rounder), Dwayne Bravo (all-rounder), Dominic Drakes (all-rounder), Dwaine Pretorious (all-rounder), Sheldon Cottrell (bowler), Izaharulhaq Naveed (bowler)
Barbados Royals
Barbados Royals had a forgettable CPL 9. They just didn’t find that winning rhythm throughout the tournament. The Jason Holder-led side won only 3 games out of 10 to end the event at the bottom of the table. With quite a few new signings this season, they would be hoping for a turnaround.
Major Developments in the squad: Royals have acquired the services of two top-class South African cricketers: Quinton de Kock and David Miller. de Kock is a terrific wicket-keeper batter with experience of leading South Africa in all three formats while David Miller is currently in the form of his life.
Who’s missing?: Elegant Shai Hope and experienced campaigner Mohammad Amir are two stars missing from Royals’ squad this year.
Squad: QUINTON DE KOCK, JASON HOLDER, DAVID MILLER, MUJEEB UR RAHMAN, OBED MCCOY, KYLE MAYERS, AZAM KHAN, HAYDEN WALSH, JNR., OSHANE THOMAS, RAHKEEM CORNWALL, DEVON THOMAS , JOSHUA BISHOP, JUSTIN GREAVES, CORBIN BOSCH, NYEEM YOUNG, TEDDY BISHOP, RAMON SIMMONDS
Probable Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk/batter), Kyle Mayers (batter), Justin Greaves (batter), Devon Thomas (batter), David Miller (batter), Rakheem Cornwall (all-rounder), Jason Holder (all-rounder), Hayden Walsh Jnr. (bowler), Oshane Thomas (bowler), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (bowler), Obed McCoy (bowler)
Guyana Amazon Warriors
Guyana was also one of those teams who did really well in the group stages but failed to impress in the knockout game of CPL 2021. They lost the semi-final against the Patriots despite having finished second-best in the points table. They would be looking to take a step forward this time around.
Major Developments in the squad: Three overseas signings in the likes of Ireland’s Paul Stirling and South Africa’s Tabraiz Shami and Heinrich Klaasen have strengthened the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad this year. All of them have looked in good nick lately.
Who’s missing?: Nicholas Pooran, who led the Guyana side last year, won’t be with them this season. Pakistani duo of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik will also miss out.
Squad: IMRAN TAHIR, SHIMRON HETMYER, TABRAIZ SHAMSI, ODEAN SMITH, ROMARIO SHEPHERD , COLIN INGRAM, CHANDRAPAUL HEMRAJ, SHAI HOPE, PAUL STIRLING, HEINRICH KLAASEN, KEEMO PAUL, JERMAINE BLACKWOOD, GUDAKESH MOTIE, VEERASAMMY PERMAUL, RONSFORD BEATON, MATTHEW NANDU, JUNIOR SINCLAIR
Probable Playing XI: Shai Hope (wk/batter), Paul Stirling (batter), Jermaine Blackwood (batter), Chandrapaul Hemraj (batter), Colin Ingram (batter), Shimron Hetmyer (batter), Romario Shepherd (all-rounder), Kemo Paul (all-rounder), Odean Smith (all-rounder), Imran Tahir (bowler), Ronsford Beaton (bowler)
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