CPL 2019: 5 veterans who can light up the tournament

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been a witness to six riveting editions thus far. A number of big names, including youngsters and veterans, have weaved magic in the popular T20 extravaganza. The next edition of the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ is all set to get underway on September 4. Trinbago Knight Riders, the defending champions, will face the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the opener.

Over the time period, like other T20 events, CPL has brushed aside the notion that the format is only for the Young Turks and not for players, nearing the end of their careers. Though the experienced ones aren’t spring chickens anymore, their presence and inputs have benefited a number of franchises. Amidst some exuberance of youth, the old hands in teams act as the guiding light.

Here are five veterans, who are expected to entertain one and all in CPL 2019  

1. Chris Gayle- Jamaica Tallawahs

Back in 2016, it was known that Chris Gayle left the Jamaica Tallawahs and joined St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Now after leading the Patriots for a couple of seasons in 2017 and 2018, the 39-year-old batter is back with the Tallawahs, who’s delighted to have him back.

The Tallawahs previously won the championship in 2013 and 2016 respectively and both times, Gayle was their skipper. He will be playing alongside the likes of Andre Russell, and the Jamaica batting already looks a power-packed one.

Gayle is only 192 runs away from becoming the first batsman with 13,000 T20 runs and he may well achieve the feet in the tournament. The southpaw was a part of the Windies’ squad for the World Cup and recently played for the Vancouver Knights in the Global T20 Canada.

2. Lasith Malinga- St Lucia Zouks

Back in 2015, Lasith Malinga made his debut in the CPL for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. This time around, the speedster is set to represent the St Lucia Zouks, who are yet to get their hands on the trophy. The St Lucia-franchise has been an absolute disappointment.

The team was led by the likes of Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard previously and both couldn’t change its wretched fortunes. Malinga will definitely be an asset to the side. Malinga recently bid goodbye to the ODI format but has been appointed as the Sri Lankan captain for the three-match T20I series versus New Zealand.

The pacer will miss the Zouks’ first match and then it remains to be seen when he joins the team. With the T20 World Cup to be held next year, Malinga will be looking to remain in proper shape.

3. Mohammad Hafeez- St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Mohammad Hafeez first played in the CPL back in 2013 when he represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors. In 2017, he plied his trade for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots but didn’t have the greatest of outings, having scored 120 runs in nine games at an average of 17.14.

Last year, he came back to the Patriots as a replacement of Rassie van der Dussen, who left due to international commitments. For the upcoming season, he is with the Patriots and is expected to play a crucial role.

With an experience of 260 games, he has well and truly been a trusted figure in the format. After the 2019 World Cup, the Punjab-born played for the Edmonton Royals in the GT20 Canada in Ontario. Then he went on to play for Middlesex in the T20 Blast where he was roped in as AB de Villiers’ replacement.

4. Shoaib Malik- Guyana Amazon Warriors

Shoaib Malik is another of those players, who is taking part in the CPL ever since the inaugural edition six years ago. The Sialkot-born made his debut for the Barbados Tridents and then went on to play for them for five years.

However, in 2018, he joined the Guyana Amazon Warriors as their skipper. Last year, the Warriors finished as the runners-up, after finishing second in the league stage. Back then, Malik also completed 8,000 T20 runs and became the fourth batsman to do so.

Malik was clear cut in mentioning that he has the goal of playing the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia. Malik is there for the Warriors even in the next season. In a batting lineup which has swashbucklers like Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Nicholas Pooran, Malik can bring in a sense of calmness.

5. Dwayne Bravo- Trinbago Knight Riders

Dwayne Bravo is only 10 wickets short of becoming the first bowler with 500 T20 wickets and he can well achieve the feet in the T20 event. Not to forget the 6,298 runs he has scored in 450 matches. Ever since the first edition, he has been with the Trinidad franchise and in 2015, the team won the championship for the first time.

Bravo led the team from the front and became the Player of the Tournament. In 2017, ‘the Champion’, as Bravo is popularly known, captained the Knight Riders to their second title glory and pulled off the same last year as well.

The Knights became the first side to win back-to-back championships. There’s no doubt that he will go down as one of the greatest in the format when he decides to call it a day. For the time being, Bravo’s focus will be to make a hat-trick of titles for TKR.