2019 Caribbean Premier League [Preview]
The 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be played from 4th September till 12th October across six countries- Guyana, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. The seventh edition will see six teams fight it out for the coveted prize.
In August 2019, St Lucia Stars were terminated to participate in this year’s competition. They will be replaced by St Lucia Zouks franchise.
Reigning Champions Trinbago Knight Riders will be looking to clinch the trophy for a record fourth time in the competition. Dwayne Bravo-led unit have been the most successful franchise in the history of Caribbean Premier League. The franchise have produced dominant results and won back-to-back trophies in the competition (in 2017 and 2018). Knight Riders will be looking to make it three in a row in the seventh edition of CPL.
For Trinbago Knight Riders, Colin Munro, Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard will be key players for the side in the batting department. The side has quality all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo and James Neesham who can provide value with the bat and ball.
Sunil Narine, Akeal Hossain and Khary Pierre are three spin option for the side for this year’s tournament. Pace bowler Ali Khan was the surprise package with the ball for the franchise in the previous edition of Caribbean Premier League.
Four-time Finalists Guyana Amazon Warriors will be desperate to break their trophy drought this season. The side have been unlucky and ended up on the losing side in the finals of CPL on four occasions (2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018). Newly appointed Captain Chris Green will be determined to make sure they go the distance and win their maiden crown this season.
In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Shimron Hetymer, Shoaib Malik and Nicholas Pooran to deliver the bulk of the runs. Chandrapaul Hemraj, Chris Green, Shadab khan and Sherfane Rutherford will need to deliver if Warriors aim to the coveted prize this season.
Two-time CPL Champions, Jamaica Tallawahs, will be buoyed with the return of Chris Gayle in their ranks. In the batting department, the side will be relying on Chris Gayle, Chadwick Walton and Glenn Phillips to do the bulk of the scoring. Chadwick Walton has been a consistent performer in the Caribbean Premier League and will be looking to do well in this year’s tournament.
In the bowling department, Imran Khan, Oshane Thomas and Andre Russell will need to pick up wickets for the side with the new-ball.
2014 CPL Champions will be keen to do well in this year’s competition. Captain Jason Holder will be hoping that the side can turn their fortunes around after a disappointing campaign last year. The side managed to only two games out of ten games played in the competition.
In the batting department, the side will be relying on likes of Shai Hope, Alex Hales and Johnson Charles to deliver the goods with the bat. Asif Ali and Jason Holder are players that can go score quickly and produce big shots at the back end of the innings.
It will be interesting to see how Tridents fare in the seventh edition of Caribbean Premier League.
Carlos Brathwaite will lead the charge for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for this year’s competition. The franchise has signed Mohammad Hafeez, Laurie Evans, Isuru Udana to bolster the overall squad for the competition.
St Lucia Zouks make their comeback in the Caribbean Premier League after the termination of St Lucia Stars.
Captain Darren Sammy will lead the franchise for this year’s competition. John Campbell, Colin de Grandhomme and Andre Fletcher will be key players for the side in the batting department.
Thisara Perera, Cameron Delport and Lasith Malinga are valuable additions to the squad for this year’s competition.
The opening game of 2019 Caribbean Premier League will see defending Champions Trinbago Knight Riders take on St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Port of Spain in Trinidad on 4th September.
The grand finale of 2019 Caribbean Premier League will be played at Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Tarouba on 12th October
