…Windies Under-19 players to feature
BRIDGETOWN— Six stars from the West Indies Under-19 squad which won the World Cup earlier this year are to feature in the fourth edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which starts late June.
The young West Indies cricketers, retained after the franchises completed their player rosters for the forthcoming campaign, are Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Gidron Pope, Anderson Phillip, Shemar Springer and Oshane Thomas.
All six players have been retained by their home teams—Hetmyer, Joseph and Pope will play for Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Windward Islands Zouks (respectively) while Phillip, Springer and Thomas will represent Trinbago Knight Riders, Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Tallawahs.
“It was hugely exciting to see so many promising players expressing themselves with an attacking mind-set and it certainly bodes well for the future of the game across the Caribbean,” said CPL International Director of Cricket Tom Moody.
“The CPL is committed to encouraging future generations of players and followers to the game and I have no doubt that West Indies cricket will reap the benefit this season and for many years to come.”
According to CPL regulations, each franchise is invited to select one player from their home country for the fourth edition of CPL.
CPL is set to bowl off from June 29 and run until August 7 and Moody expects emerging local talent to make “significant inroads” this season.
“In making their selections, the six franchises analysed and scrutinised in great depth the available talent on display and conducted internal camps to assess the players up close,” said Moody.
“It wasn’t a straightforward process, which is testament to the performances of the players.” (CMC)
