The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have made a bold move in preparation for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 by signing Sri Lankan leg-spinner and captain Wanindu Hasaranga, as well as South African batsman Rilee Rossouw. These high-profile acquisitions, along with other strategic player signings and retentions, underline the Patriots’ ambition to claim their second CPL title.
Wanindu Hasaranga, currently the No.2 ranked ICC T20I bowler, is recognized as one of the premier spin bowlers globally. At 26 years old, his ability to vary his deliveries and consistently take wickets makes him a formidable opponent in T20 cricket. Hasaranga has an impressive record with 247 wickets in 177 T20 matches.
Complementing Hasaranga’s prowess is Rilee Rossouw, a dynamic left-handed batsman who has shown excellent form in various T20 franchise leagues worldwide over the past year. Rossouw, with 8448 runs, including six centuries and 50 half-centuries in 340 T20 matches, will be a critical asset at the top of the batting order for the Patriots.
The Patriots have also retained key West Indian players, including Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, and Andre Fletcher. Rutherford, following an outstanding 2023 season, will continue to add strength to the team alongside the new international recruits.
In addition to these stars, the Patriots have brought in talented overseas players like Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza, Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, and South African batsman Tristan Stubbs. The squad, already featuring 13 retained players, will finalize its roster with four more additions in the upcoming draft in July.
Furthermore, the Patriots have secured the services of all-rounder Odean Smith from the Guyana Amazon Warriors and maintained openers, Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher, reinforcing their batting lineup for the upcoming season.
For the first time in four years, the CPL will feature matches across six host nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. This wide geographical spread aims to bring the excitement of the CPL to a broader audience.
Key players for the Patriots this season include Wanindu Hasaranga, Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Sikandar Raza, Nuwan Thushara, Andre Fletcher, Tristan Stubbs, Dominic Drakes, Odean Smith, Joshua da Silva, Ashmead Nedd, and Johann Layne.
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