ST JOHN’S – Three of the world’s leading Twenty20 cricketers are to join the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) replacing injured players and those leaving because of other professional commitments.
They are the Sri Lankan duo of Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga, along with former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, organizers announced yesterday.
Batsman Jayawardene, who sits in tenth place in the list of all-time run-scorers in Twenty20 cricket, is stepping in for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in place of South African Davy Jacobs, ruled out with an injury to his right ankle.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing cricket in the Caribbean, so I am really looking forward to this short stint with Red Steel,” said Jayawardene who has a total of 3 876 runs in the shortest form of the game at an average of 29.36.
“We have got a really talented young team and I hope I can help us first get into the semi-finals and then go on and challenge for the title. It should be a really entertaining and exciting finale to the tournament.”
Fast bowler Malinga, second in the list of all-time wicket-takers in the shortest form of the game, replaces Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Hafeez is set to join his country’s upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.
“Playing cricket in the West Indies is always fun and I am really looking forward to playing in the final stages of the inaugural Limacol CPL,” Malinga said.
“I’ve been following the progress of the tournament back home and I am very happy to be joining the Guyana Amazon Warriors.”
Like Hafeez, Umar Akmal of the Barbados Tridents is also heading to Zimbabwe with his national team, which has created the opportunity for Mahmood, currently fourth in that list of all-time Twenty20 wicket-takers.
Mahmood last played for Pakistan in 2007 and since then has become one of the most highly-regarded all-rounders in Twenty20 history.
In another change, Orlando Peters had replaced injured South Africa all-rounder Justin Kemp for the Antigua Hawksbills delivered a tidy four-over spell and made a crucial 31 from 22 balls to help the home side defeat the Barbados Tridents in a low-scoring match on Tuesday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. (CMC)
