Falcons dealt Zaman blow, Patriots lose Rutherford

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

THE ANTIGUA and Barbuda Falcons will have to do without their star opening batsman and top run scorer Fakhar Zaman for the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

In a press release issued by the Falcons, it was announced that Zaman, one of the leading run scorers in this year’s tournament would be returning to Pakistan.

“The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons will be without the services of Fakhar Zaman for the remaining matches in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.

“The left-handed opener returned to Pakistan to participate in an event there,” the press release stated.

“The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons thank Fakhar for his performances on the field and contributions off the field during his time with the franchise.”

In his five games for the Falcons, Zaman scored 159 runs at an average of 31.80 and a strike rate of 134, with a highest score of 43.

Despite missing the Falcons’ last game against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Zaman is currently the fourth-highest run scorer in the tournament

In the meantime, The Patriots’ Sherfane Rutherford will take no further part in the CPL.

In what will certainly add to the Patriots’ woes, the 26-year-old has withdrawn from the tournament and left the team due to personal reasons.

Rutherford scored just 35 runs in four games for the Patriots at a strike rate of 194.44.

The Patriots are currently languishing in last place in the six-team tournament with just one win from their six games.

He did not feature in the Patriots’ two-wicket loss to the Falcons on Sunday, with Dominic Drakes replacing him in the starting 11.

A CPL press release said a replacement for Rutherford will be announced in due course.