Jamaica Tallawahs rope in Shakib Al Hasan for CPL 2021

Shakib Al Hasan

The 2021 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is all set to get underway from August 28 with the final to take place on September 19. Keeping in mind the challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the authorities have decided to host the entire tournament at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis.

Ahead of the drafts for CPL 2021, Jamaica Tallawahs have made a stellar deal as they have included Bangladesh’s celebrated all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in their squad. It is a homecoming for Shakib as he plied his trade for Tallahwas in the 2016 and 2017 editions. The all-rounder was a part of Jamaica Tallawahs’ winning squad during the 2016 edition.

After representing the Tallawahs for two seasons, Shakib was roped in by Barbados Tridents and he featured for the team for the next two years. The all-rounder also won the league with Barbados Tridents in 2019. However, he was forced to miss the 2020 edition of the Caribbean Premier League as he was surviving a one-year ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Jamaica Tallawahs retain seven players

Ahead of the 2021 edition, Jamaica Tallawahs retained as many as seven players from the previous edition while releasing ten cricketers. Some notable players retained by the franchises include the likes of Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Rovman Powell, and Chadwick Walton.

However, in a surprising development, the franchise decided to release spinners like Mujeeb ur Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane. Both of them had performed decently for the team in the 2020 edition.

As far as Jamaica Tallawahs’ performance is concerned, the franchise experienced a torrid outing in the tournament hosted in Trinidad. They finished at the fourth position on the points table after winning just three games out of the ten league fixtures. However, the team managed to qualify for the second stage of the tournament. Their campaign came to an end after they lost to Trinbago Knight Riders in the semi-finals.

Players retained before CPL 2021 Draft: Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton, Fidel Edwards, V Permaul, and Ryan Persaud.

Players released: Asif Ali, Nicholas Kirton, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkumrah Bonner, Ramaal Lewis, Glenn Phillips, Oshane Thomas, Sandeep Lamichhane, Preston McSween, Mujeeb ur Rahman.