As the 2020 CPL approaches, the ever changing situation of COVID-19 has predictably seen many players unable to travel to Trinidad for the tournament.
With that said, there are some exciting overseas players coming to the CPL this year and there is definitely some unheralded talent to look out for.
Luke Dunning identifies the three most worth watching in this years edition.
TIM SEIFERT
Seifert is joining the Trinbago Knightriders where the hope is he will replace local boy Dinesh Ramdin who has moved to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.Â
There is a lot of excitement around Seifert given his performances at the backend of 2019 going into 2020. He averaged 47.00 against a strong India side that whipped the floor with New Zealand in a 5-0 series win and struck at 142.4 during that series.
Originally he was picked in the squad as the team’s finisher but as Kane Williamson fell to injury after the 3rd T20I of the series, Seifert found himself batting at 3 for the last two games of the series and duly delivered with two 50s to finish the series.
One shouldn’t expect Seifert to dethrone Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine and Colin Munro as the top 3 at Trinbago but he could well slot into a middle order that includes the flair of Darren Bravo and the power of captain, Kieron Pollard.Â
Despite Seifert’s obvious talent, there is an argument that Seifert may struggle against spin. His record on turning wickets is suspect and as the pitches are meant to turn in Trinidad this year he will come under scrutiny. His record in Asia (he hasn’t played in the Caribbean) is poor at best, he averages a paltry 8.16 across the UAE and Sri Lanka.
The main hope for Trinbago fans is that the time passed since Seifert last played on turning surfaces has seen him improve his game against spin and he can recapture the form he was showing at the turn of the year.
NAVEEN UL HAQ
With Afghanistan producing spinner after spinner, it is genuinely exciting to see a raw pace prospect come out of the new kids on the international block in Naveen Ul Haq.
Naveen has stated that he wants to lead the charge in the development of fast bowlers in his home nation and West Indies fans would have seen the proof for themselves at the back end of 2019. Naveen’s pace took more wickets than Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman which was impressive given the series took place in India.
Recruited by Guyana Amazon Warriors, Naveen’s ability to take wickets on spinning tracks would have appealed to the Warriors’ hierarchy despite the tournament taking place in Trinidad. Of course, we all know the threat possessed by the likes of Imran Tahir and Chris Green but the way Naveen has returned to the Afghanistan fold after an exodus of 2 years would encourage a definite Plan B of using pace to unsettle their opponents.
ASIF ALI
Barbados Trident fans would have been disappointed when Asif couldn’t join them last season but the Jamaica Tallawahs should be excited about the arrival of the Pakistani for this edition of the CPL.
The reason for the excitement around Asif’s inclusion is that it allows the Tallawahs to bat both Andre Russell and Rovman Powell up the order, maybe as high as positions 3 and 4. Asif has proven in the past to be an elite finisher in the T20 format.
Yes, he has had his troubles since the 2019 World Cup. In PSL 2020, his top score in the tournament was 20* but his potential is unbelievable, especially against spin.
We only have to go back to the 2018 PSL where Asif burst onto the scene, he struck at 169.0, playing the role of a finisher, averaging 30.42 in the process. The 2019 season was even better for Asif, he averaged 35.12 whilst striking at 182.5.
If he can rediscover this form then the Tallawahs will be serious contenders.
Article edited by Machel St Patrick Hewitt
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