The St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots (SNP) have made key changes to their squad for the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, bringing in South African stars Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi as replacements for Sri Lankan duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Nuwan Thushara. The latter pair were ruled out due to injuries sustained during Sri Lanka’s recent series against India.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Nuwan Thushara’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by SNP. Thushara missed the entire white-ball tour against India due to a finger injury, while Hasaranga played only the T20I series and the first ODI before being sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Anrich Nortje, fresh off a stellar performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in South Africa reaching their first-ever World Cup final, will be making his debut in the CPL. His arrival is expected to bolster the Patriots’ pace attack significantly.
Tabraiz Shamsi, a seasoned CPL campaigner, brings a wealth of experience to the team. With 33 wickets in 27 games for SNP at an impressive economy rate of 7.06, Shamsi is no stranger to success in the Caribbean. His inclusion is set to strengthen SNP’s spin department.
The St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots will be eager to improve upon their dismal performance in the previous CPL season, where they finished at the bottom of the points table with just one win and seven losses. SNP, who clinched their first CPL title in 2021, have since struggled—finishing second to last in 2022 and last in 2023.
The 2024 CPL season kicks off on August 29, with the new franchise Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (replacing Jamaica Tallawahs) taking on SNP in the opening match. The six-team tournament will see each team face the others twice, with the top four advancing to the playoffs. The grand finale is scheduled for October 6 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots squad for CPL 2024: Kyle Mayers, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Sikandar Raza, Anrich Nortje, Andre Fletcher, Tristan Stubbs, Dominic Drakes, Mikyle Louis, Odean Smith, Joshua da Silva, Veerasammy Permaul, Ryan John, Ashmead Nedd, and Johann Layne.
With a revamped squad and the addition of key players like Nortje and Shamsi, SNP will be looking to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming season.
