Ramdin among new Patriots signings

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

ST KITTS AND Nevis Patriots have made some significant changes to their line-up for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season. Captain Carlos Brathwaite has gone to the Jamaica Tallawahs, while the Patriots have let go of head coach Robin Singh and signed Windies wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin.

The major changes to the franchise’s set-up were announced yesterday in a statement which said they had retained six of their 2019 CPL players from the Caribbean, and signed Ramdin. He has transferred from the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) after four years with his home franchise, where he won the 2017 and 2018 titles.

Ramdin, whose departure from TKR was revealed by that franchise on Tuesday, joins Windies players Rayad Emrit, Evin Lewis, Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen and Alzarri Joseph, and emerging player, Barbadian Dominic Drakes.

International retentions and signings are expected to be announced at a later date.

With the departure of former Windies Twenty20 International skipper Brathwaite, who was among Patriots’ leading scorers during his time with the franchise, 39-year-old all-rounder Emrit will serve as captain.

REPLACEMENT HEAD COACH

The franchise also named Australian Simon Helmot to replace Singh as head coach for the upcoming season.

Emrit said he was “very excited to be part of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for a second season”.

“I think that the team that is selected this year is going to be a very exciting one,” he said. “I am very excited to be named as captain. It’s always an honour and a privilege to lead a franchise. Our new coach, Simon Helmot, knows the CPL and he knows how to win titles. He and I are going to work very hard to get the team to the finals,” he added.

The eighth staging of the CPL is set for August 19 to September 26, but with the spread of COVID-19 leading to the postponement, suspension, and cancellation of sports across the globe, it is unsure whether the event will go ahead as planned.

CPL organisers say they are watching the global pandemic closely and are liaising with medical advisers and governments to make a decision on the tournament as soon as possible.

Along with Patriots and TKR, the other teams set to compete this year are Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Lucia Zouks, Jamaica Tallawahs and reigning champions Barbados Tridents.