All that you need to know about CPL 2017

The fifth edition of Windian cricket extravaganza will commence on the 4th of August. Following the footsteps of massively successful franchise T20 leagues like Indian Premier League and Big Bash League, Cricket West Indies started their own franchise based T20 league, the Caribbean Premier League.

The league is contested among 6 sides. Each boasts of a maximum of six foreigner stars. Coming to the format of the tournament, each team plays two matches against one opponent. The top 4 teams after the group stages qualify for the knockout rounds, from where the finalists are decided. The winners of the final get their hands on the coveted trophy. However, unlike the other T20 leagues, a team plays only three matches at home in the CPL.

Venues

Each six teams have their own home ground. Jamaica Tallawahs play in the SabinaPark at Jamaica. Saint Kitts and Nevis play their home matches at the Warner Park whereas Saint Lucia uses the Darren Sammy Stadium as their home ground. With a capacity of 20,000, the iconic Queen’s Park Oval is the home ground of Shah Rukh Khan owned franchise Trinbago Knight Riders.

Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors use the Kensington Oval and Providence Stadium as their home grounds respectively. The capacity of both the grounds is 15,000. Besides these grounds, Central Broward Regional Park of America and Brian Lara Stadium of Trinidad will also be utilized for the competition.

Teams

Barbados Tridents

Barbados Tridents are the winners of the 2014 edition of the tournament. Led by the veteran Windian all-rounder Kieron Pollard, the Tridents’ squad boasts of big names like Kane Williamson, Shoaib Malik and Wayne Parnell. Their pace bowling department will be headed by the Pakistani pace spearhead Wahab Riaz. The team is coached by former Indian cricketer, Robin Singh.

Squad: 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

Guyana Amazon Warriors

For this team, the most appropriate phrase one can use is “so near yet so far”. The Amazon Warriors have stormed into the finals of the CPL like true warriors thrice, but have never been able to win the title. Giving a tough competition to South Africa for the tag of ‘chokers’, the team boasts of many international stars. New Zealand’s opener Martin Guptill will lead the batting department.

On the bowling front, the team has the right blend of youth and experience, featuring seasoned performers like Sohail Tanvir and young sensations like Rashid Khan. The team is coached by the local lad Roger Harper and will be looking to settle for nothing less than the trophy this year.

Squad: 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, S Katwaroo, Ali Khan, Shimron Hetmyer

Jamaica Tallawahs

Owned by the Chalak Mitra group, the Tallawahs can be compared with Mumbai Indians of the Indian Premier League. With two trophies in their kitty, Tallawahs will be looking forward to creating history by becoming the first team to win three CPLs, as MI became the first team to win three IPLs earlier this year. They will be led by former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

The Jamaican squad boasts of the local lads like Rovman Powell and Krishmar Santokie. Coming to the overseas division, they have got two top notch all-rounders in Shakib Al Hasan and Imad Wasim. They also have an American player among their ranks in Timroy Allen. Coached by Paul Nixon, the most consistent team must offer some top drawer performances to do justice to their tag.

Squad: 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

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

St Kitts and Nevis was not a part of the CPL setup from its inception, the team joined in the 3rd edition of the tournament and hasn’t done much to make a name for themselves. Finishing last in both the instalments, the team will be looking a fresh start in the fifth season. They have a great squad this year, featuring the monster among men Chris Gayle.

All teams must be jealous after looking at their all-rounders department, which features Afghan legend Mohammad Nabi, Ben Cutting, Chris Morris and hero of Windies’ last triumph at a major ICC event Carlos Brathwaite. With the killer spinner duo in Tabraiz Shamsi and Samuel Badree, Patriots have ticked all the boxes in terms of squad building. Now under the supervision of Phil Simmons, they would be looking to tick all the boxes in the field so as to provide their fans with some joy after two years of embarrassment.

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

St Lucia Stars

Formerly known as St Lucia Zouks, they will now be called St Lucia Stars. Just like Patriots, Stars also have not done much in the circuit to be remembered. They have always finished in the bottom three and will now target a major revival in the fifth edition. Their squad has been made by prioritising experience ahead of youth and exuberance.

Australia’s Shane Watson will lead the all-rounder’s department. He will be assisted by the local star Darren Sammy. Another veteran, Lasith Malinga will take charge the bowling department while the batting section will be handled by David Miller and Marlon Samuels. Their squad also boasts of an American in Timil Patel.

Squad: Darren Sammy, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Eddie Leie, Obed McCoy, Kyle Mayers, Timil Patel, Shane Shillingford, Shane Watson, Sunil Ambris, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kamran Akmal, Keddy Lesporis, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jesse Ryder

Trinbago Knight Riders

The Knight Riders resemble Windian version of IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders. Both the teams have got the same logo. They have tasted success once in the competition. Trained by the assistant coach of KKR Simon Katich, the squad has got a great mix of power hitters like Brendon McCullum, Colin Munro and sound technicians like Darren Bravo and Hashim Amla in the batting department.

Thier spin bowling department gives the batting front a run for their money, comprising of Sunil Narine, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Shadab Khan. The only area of concern for them is the bowling as it is devoid of any stars. However, experienced all-rounders like Dwayne Bravo and Kevon Cooper can hide it with their bowling.

Squad: Hashim Amla, Dwayne Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Brad Hogg, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Anderson Phillip, Denesh Ramdin, Shadab Khan, Ronsford Beaton, Darren Bravo, Hamza Tariq, Brendon McCullum, Colin Munro, William Perkins, Khary Pierre, Javon Searles, Mehedi Hasan

Schedule