As many as three Afghanistan players have been named in the reshuffled squad lists for the forthcoming edition of the Caribbean Premier League. While Jamaica Tallawahs will have the services of Qais Ahmad, Guyana Amazon Warriors have the duo of Naveen-ul-Haq and Waqar Salamkheil. The same was confirmed after Ibrahim Zadran and Shafiqullah Ghafari who had been originally drafted by the Tallawahs and the Barbados Royals in May were not included in the final squads.
Notably, the situation is far from being ideal in Afghanistan where the Taliban have taken control. There is serious anxiety and uncertainty regarding the future with residents looking to somehow leave the country. It remains to be seen how amid all this cricket and cricketing events are impacted. Although Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Hamid Shinwari has been quoted saying that he expects cricket to go on without any hindrance as the Taliban loves and supports the game.
"We will resume our office from tomorrow and the national camp which was underway ahead of the Pakistan series in Sri Lanka will also resume after a two-day break with the change in regime," Shinwari told PTI on Monday.
A report carried by ESPNCricinfo also claims that Naveen is already serving his quarantine in St Kitts, which is set to host the entire CPL season beginning on August 26.
In addition, Afganistan players Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman were not part of the initial list as they have the international commitment in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan.
Check out the complete squads here
Squads:
Jamaica Tallawahs: Andre Russell, Chris Green, Carlos Brathwaite, Rovman Powell, Haider Ali, Chadwick Walton, Fidel Edwards, Qais Ahmad, Jason Mohammed, Migael Pretorius, Kennar Lewis, Shamarh Brooks, Veerasammy Permaul, Abijhai Mansingh, Joshua James, Kirk McKenzie, Ryan Persaud.
Saint Lucia Kings: Faf du Plessis, Keemo Paul, Wahab Riaz, Tim David, Andre Fletcher, Kesrick Williams, Usman Qadir, Samit Patel, Obed McCoy, Rahkeem Cornwall, Mark Deyal, Roston Chase, Javelle Glen, Keron Cottoy, Jeavor Royal, Kadeem Alleyne, Alzarri Joseph.
Trinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Yasir Shah, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Isuru Udana, Tim Seifert, Anderson Phillip, Denesh Ramdin, Tion Webster, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, Leonardo Julien, Ali Khan.
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Ravi Bopara, Paul van Meekeren, Sherfane Rutherford, Sheldon Cottrell, Fawad Ahmed, Devon Thomas, Rayad Emrit, Asif Ali, Colin Archibald, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Dominic Drakes, Joshua Da Silva, Mykile Louis.
Barbados Royals: Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder, Thisara Perera, Mohammad Amir, Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Oshane Thomas, Kyle Mayers, Hayden Walsh Jr, Azam Khan, Raymon Reifer, Justin Greaves, Ashley Nurse, Jake Lintott, Nyeem Young, Joshua Bishop, Smit Patel.
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Nicholas Pooran, Shoaib Malik, Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Mohammad Hafeez, Brandon King, Naveen-ul-Haq, Romario Shepherd, Waqar Salamkheil, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Odean Smith, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Ashmead Nedd.