Cricket- The retired Windies trio among retained TKR players, including the Falcons, keep faith with the Tallawahs brigade.

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Four-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders retained 12 players from their squad last year, and expansion side Antigua & Barbuda Falcons have confirmed the same number for this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 tournament from August 29 to October 6.

Tournament organizers announced on Monday that the Knight Riders had confirmed the players they have retained and signed ahead of the player draft. This includes the significant presence of West Indies retirees, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, and Dwayne Bravo, who bring a wealth of experience and skill to the team.

The Knight Riders have confirmed 15 players in total and will fill their two emerging player spots in the July player draft.

The Falcons, under the astute leadership of their principals, have made strategic decisions in their lineup. They have kept faith with nine of the players from the decommissioned Jamaica Tallawahs, including Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, two members of the Pakistan squad playing in the current ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

In all, the Falcons have confirmed 12 players for the coming season and will have five spots to fill during the player draft.

The Knight Riders have three promising newcomers to their franchise – batsman Tim David, a member of the Australia team at the T20 World Cup, and left-arm pacer Josh Little, a member of the Ireland team at the T20 World Cup. And Jason Roy, an opener many reckon unfortunate not to be part of the England T20 World Cup squad. These additions bring fresh energy and potential to the team.

TKR has also retained the core of Caribbean players who took them to the final against champions Guyana Amazon Warriors last year. They are led by the West Indies T20 World Cup trio of left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran, all-rounder Andre Russell, a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders outfit that won the Indian Premier League this year, and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

Pakistan left-hander Fakhar Zaman will boost the batting of the Falcons, whose lineup also includes Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai and Leeward Islands Hurricanes and West Indies Under-19 wicketkeeper-batsman Jewel Andrew.

West Indies T20 World Cup batsman Brandon King and reserves Fabian Allen and Hayden Walsh Jr are among the Caribbean brigade retained from the Tallawahs from last season, along with Australian Chris Green.