The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has emerged as one of the most contested T20 leagues in the world. With star players flocking the tournament every season, the quality and the intensity of cricket on display is at its highest.
The eighth edition of the tournament is officially confirmed to begin from August 18, 2020 with six teams fighting it off against each other. With a number of new signings, each franchise will be eager to build some momentum and begin on a high. The season will be all the more crucial for Jamaica Tallawahs, who had a dismal season in 2019.
Despite being one of the strongest units on paper, the Tallawahs were unable to get going, finishing at the bottom of the table last year with just two wins.
The winners of the 2013 and the 2016 edition of the CPL have some of the biggest names like Andre Russell and Sandeep Lamichhane in their ranks, and are must picks in your fantasy team.
However, a few players might not be the best selection in the fantasy side, and we list three such cricketers who might not fetch consistent points.
Preston McSween
The left-arm fast bowler opens the bowling for the side that he turns out for, but it is unlikely that he will be a first-choice selection in the XI of the Tallawahs squad, at least initially. The 24-year old is yet to play any official T20 game in his career and is yet to play a List A game as well.
McSween has turned out for 9 First-class matches, however, and has impressed, picking up 31 scalps at an average of 23.87. The Grenadian cricketer made his FC debut in the 2016-17 Regional Four Day Competition but it was not until the West Indies Championship earlier this year in March that he picked up his first five-wicket haul in the format. His form helped him to find a place in the reserve player’s squad for the Test series between West Indies and England, though he did not make the final squad.
Although a talented FC talent. McSween is yet to prove his mark in limited overs cricket, and might not find a spot in the XI for his side right away.
Nicholas Kirton
Though the batsman has played five T20 Internationals for his country Canada, he has been unable to set the stage on fire. He has scored 75 runs with a high score of 37 across five innings, but what has been disappointing has been Kirton’s dismal strike rate of just 90.36. In June 2018, the 22-year old had been selected to play for Montreal Tigers for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada, but he was not able to leave much of a mark in the sole match that he played, scoring just three runs.
Included in Canada’s squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament, Kirton finally made his international debut against Jersey last year. However, the fact that he is a specialized batsman in a Tallawahs side that is jam-packed with all-rounders makes it tough for him to feature in all games, and, hence, he might not be the best pick in the fantasy side.
Ryan Persaud
The 25-year old is a talented leg break googly bowler from the United States of America and makes the Jamaica Tallawahs side as the ‘ICC Americas pick’. Though packed with tremendous talent, it is unlikely that Persaud can edge slower bowlers like Tabraiz Shamis, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Veerasammy Permaul and find a place in the first-choice side.
The three aforementioned spinners not only bring the experience into the squad but have showcased their skills across the globe in varied conditions. Even if Persaud does make the cut, inexperience can be a hindrance, and it would be safer to see how he fares in the games before including him in your fantasy team.
