The West Indies team is currently in a state of confusion regarding the 2022 T20 World Cup selection and Expressing different opinions about those senior players. However, Dr. Desmond Haynes had earlier stated that the upcoming CPL tournament will be used to select the final squad for the World Cup.
“If you’ve got a competition and somebody is playing well, I think his name should really come up for selection, so I think performance is very important to us. We did not say we have picked the World Cup team, so all the games leading up to the World Cup we must take them into consideration.”
The Caribbean Premier League is a six-team domestic T20 competition played across the Caribbean. It has been running since 2013 and the tenth season started yesterday, Wednesday 31st August. The first match was between last year’s champions St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Jamaica Tallawahs, Tallawahs took their first win of the tournament by 47 runs.
Accordingly, there are quite a few bowlers who can be guessed to be given special attention in this year’s tournament. Among them, some important players are, viz
The CPL 2022 will see many international players participating in the competition. The tournament promises to be hugely exciting and is much anticipated by the West Indies cricket fans.
1. Sunil Narine (Trinbago Knight Riders )
Sunil Narine is one of the most economical and effective mystery bowlers in the T20 format. He was at his best in the 2022 “Hundred”, taking 9 wickets in the last 5 matches. Narine has taken 52 wickets in 51 T20 for West Indies. Also, he has got 457 wickets in 421 T20 matches around the world as well as 3211 runs as a batsman.
However, Sunil has not played any Twenty20 match for West Indies since August 2019. But he said a few days ago in a discussion with ESPNcricinfo
“Things happen for a reason and hopefully, in the future, I’ll be wearing maroon again, but until then, I’d still love to play for the Windies. We shall see when that opportunity comes, but there will never be a no for West Indies.”
While Narine has been giving his service for Trinbago Knight Riders in this year’s Caribbean Premier League, we have seen his unique skills of hitting important milestones and keeping the batsmen quiet for long stretches.
His recent performances and overall ability to deceive the batsmen and his performances in this tournament are likely to secure a spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad.
2. Obed McCoy (Barbados Royals)
Obed McCoy has been in considerable form for the West Indies these days but has been caught under attack at some times. However, in the last few matches, he has played the role of a regular in the set-up as well as a pure match-winner.
McCoy is a specialist death bowler and has a lot of variety in his bowling arsenal. He can bowl slow yorkers with precision along with off-cutters that can trouble the batsmen. He has played 57 T20 matches so far and has taken 86 wickets at an average of 19.48 and an economy of 8.56.
McCoy managed to take 14 wickets in the last 10 games he played. He also holds the record for best bowling and worst bowling for West Indies in T20 internationals. His 6 for 17 in the second match of the recently concluded series against India was the best bowling figure by any West Indies player in a T20 International also the 66 runs scored by India against him in the fourth match of that series is the highest number of runs given by a West Indies player in a Twenty20 match.
He is playing for the Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League this season and has a crucial role to play in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Accordingly, it is important to find his rhythm again in this tournament.
03. Fabian Allen (Jamaica Tallawahs)
Fabian Allen can be defined as dynamic with the bat, crafty with the ball, and electric on the field. He is a utility all-rounder in the shorter formats and came to the attention of the West Indies national selectors after his success in the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup. He was soon drafted into mainstream cricket when he made his debut.
Fabian’s career took a setback when he met with a life-threatening accident in 2016, but he didn’t let it affect his career. Also again earlier this year he rejected the national team contract due to personal reasons. The reason was that he lost his father due to cancer. However, he announced a few days ago that he will be available for the West Indies selections.
“Most importantly, I’ve been getting myself physically and mentally ready for the CPL and hopefully the T20 World Cup (if selected) later this year. The best of Fabian Allen is yet to come. I know I have the ability to be one of the best batting allrounders in the world and I look forward to showcasing it for all to see.”
This year in the CPL tournament, he is representing the Jamaica Tallawahs. The potential is certainly there and if properly nurtured in the CPL, Fabian Allen could play a big role in the upcoming T20 World Cup alongside Akeal Hosein.
04. Alzarri Joseph (St. Lucia Kings)
A tall fast bowler, Alzzari Joseph started as a leg-spinner in his backyard in Antigua before his height marked him for different bowling. During his teenage years, he earned a reputation as one of the fastest bowlers on the school circuit, which led to the 2016 Under-19 World Cup.
Joseph, who idolizes Dale Steyn, learned the craft under former West Indies fast bowler Winston Benjamin. he has taken 53 wickets in 52 T20 matches and his best bowling figures were 6 for 12 runs.
Blessed with height, speed, and ease of action, Joseph is representing St. Lucia Kings in this year’s CPL and he needs to continue his performance in this tournament to secure a place to compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
05. Sheldon Cottrell (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots)
Fast and muscular, the Jamaican soldier has earned a reputation as a fearsome bowler whose angle causes problems over and around the wickets, along with his slingy actions. Sheldon Cottrell has a unique style of celebrating after a wicket which has attracted many cricket followers around the world.
One of the best players in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup with 12 wickets for West Indies, Cottrell has missed the last few international matches. Cottrell, who was one of the most promising players in the inaugural season of the CPL in 2013, has been with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the CPL for almost ten years.
Having taken 152 wickets in 123 T20 matches, if he plays very well in this tournament, he will surely be a very good investment for West Indies in the upcoming T20 World Cup.