CPL champs lose du Plessis to the Hundred

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS St Lucia Kings will be without the services of their inspirational captain, Faf du Plessis, at this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The 40-year-old South African, who led the Kings to their maiden CPL title last year, has opted to play for Southern Brave in the Hundred – a professional cricket league in the United Kingdom – which will run simultaneously with the CPL.

However, during the 2025 CPL draft, which took place on Wednesday, the Kings added Indian Premier League (IPL) champion, Australian big hitter Tim David to their roster.

Four-time CPL champions Trinbago Knight Riders have recruited the Pakistan pair of Mohammad Amir and Usman Tariq, while the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons snapped up Imad Wasim as their first pick and Shakib Al Hasan as their second pick.

The Amazon Warriors retained 46-year-old Imran Tahir as their first pick, while Moeen Ali, who announced his international retirement in September last year, was re-signed by the Warriors having opted to skip the Hundred for the CPL.

Trinbago Knight Riders will once again have the services of Nicholas Pooran, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket.

As expected, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell were all retained, while Darren Bravo has returned to the franchise.

Each franchise also had to draft players from the recently concluded Breakout League in the last three rounds of the draft – 15, 16 and 17.

CPL 2025 SQUADS

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder (traded), Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Corbin Bosch, Waqar Salamkheil, Andre Fletcher, Alick Athanaze (traded), Mohammad Nawaz, Dominic Drakes, Mikyle Louis, Ashmead Nedd, Jeremiah Louis, Jyd Goolie, Navin Bidaisee, Leniko Boucher.

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons: Imad Wasim, Shakib Al Hasan, Fabian Allen, Naveen-ul-Haq, Obed McCoy, Justin Greaves, Bevon Jacobs, Jayden Seales, AM Ghazanfar, Rahkeem Cornwall (traded), Odean Smith, Jewel Andrew, Shamar Springer, Amir Jangoo, Karima Gore, Kevin Wickham, Joshua James.

Barbados Royals: Rovman Powell, Brandon King (traded), Sherfane Rutherford (traded), Quinton de Kock, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Jomel Warrican, Kadeem Alleyne, Shaqkere Parris, Kofi James, Nyeem Young, Rivaldo Clarke, Zishan Motara, Johann Layne, Ramon Simmonds.

Trinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Alex Hales, Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Amir, Colin Munro, Usman Tariq, Ali Khan, Darren Bravo, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Terrance Hinds, McKenny Clarke, Joshua Da Silva, Nathan Edward.

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Glenn Phillips, Gudakesh Motie, Moeen Ali, Shamar Joseph, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Shamarh Brooks, Kemol Savory, Hassan Khan, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Quentin Sampson, Riyad Latif.

St Lucia Kings: Tim David, Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Tim Seifert, Roston Chase, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Wiese, Delano Potgieter, Matthew Forde, Aaron Jones, Khary Pierre, Javelle Glen, Micah McKenzie, Shadrack Descarte, Johann Jeremiah, Keon Gaston, Ackeem Auguste.