Matthews’ Royals attract Aussie, Sri Lankan stars to WCPL

THE BARBADOS Royals have retained Hayley Matthews and Amanda-Jade Wellington ahead of the 2024 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

The Royals won the tournament last season and they are also bringing back Australia batter Laura Harris, along with Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne and Qiana Joseph for their title defence.

The new members of the squad are Sri Lankan opener Chamari Athapaththu and Australian wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne.

There are six more spots in the squad left to fill, and these players will be selected at the WCPL draft later this month.

The 2024 Massy CPL will take place in Trinidad from August 21 to 29, with all seven matches at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Other franchises have also done some good work ahead of the draft with the Guyana Amazon Warriors retaining Stafanie Taylor, Shabnim Ismail, Karishma Ramharack, Shemaine Campbelle, Natasha McClean and Shakera Selman.

The Warriors have also enlisted the help of Australian batter Erin Burns, South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon, and England batter Lauren Winfield-Hill.

The Trinbago Knight Riders, in the meantime, have called India internationals Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey.

Australians Meg Lanning and Jess Jonassen will also turn out for the Knight Riders, who have retained Deandra Dottin, Shamila Connell, Kycia Knight, Zaida James, and Shamara Ramnath.