The Caribbean Premier League T20 was in danger of being scuttled due to COVID-19. Fortunately, the organisers are able to surmount some of the challenges, adopting the best practices employed by other competitive sport leagues in other parts of the world such as the National Basketball Association or the English Premier League.
The league is official back on August 18 after all the players tested negative for the killer virus. Cricketers and their respective parties were swabbed after landing at the Trinidad and Tobago airport before they were allowed to exit the facility.
It means that happy days again for online bookers and bettors trying their luck on CPL T20 match.
Since its start in the West Indies in 2006, the CPL T20 has grown into a respectable league where many cricket players have made their mark. Now, with six franchises trying to play 10 games on the group stage and two semifinal games and then the finals to bring home the trophy.
The six franchises in the CPL T20 are:
1. Jamaica Tallawah
2. Guyana Amazon Warriors
3. Trinbago Knight Riders
4. Barbados Tridents
5. St. Lucia Zouks
6. St. Kitt and Nevis Patriots
Of the squads, the Trinbago Knight Riders have dominated the league in recent seasons, winning three of the six tourneys.
All franchises are allowed to draft a maximum of five foreign players, and if you are a betting man, it is best to know the competition.
So, here are some of the foreign players who are expected to make waves when the CPL T20 resumes play:
1. Imran Tahir — One of the older statesmen in the league at the ripe age of 40, Tahir is a South African spin bowler from Lahore, Pakistan. He is on his way to elite territory after having reached 100 One Day International wickets in just 58 matches. He also boasts of being the only spinner with the most number of wickets in the ICC World Cup while playing for South Africa. He is not fancy by any means but very effective with his googlies and leg-breaks. Tahir plays for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
2. Chris Lynn — The veteran right-handed batsman earned his spurs for the Queensland Bulls in Australian cricket matches. He also holds the distinction as the most accomplished batsmen to come from Down Under. He is known for his fielding and batting skills, which he put to good use during matches as he scored more than 40 in first-class format in the Australian domestic cricket tournaments and almost 30 in the T20 matches. With Lynn in your squad, you know that the match can shift momentum. It should be mentioned, however, that his career was hampered by injuries even at a young age of 30. Lynn will suit up for the St. Kitt and Nevis Patriots when the CPL T20 returns on August 18.
3. Rashid Khan — Commentator Brett Lee also picked Rashid Khan as one of the foreign players to watch out for when play resumes. Lee has remarked that Khan has plenty of tricks in his bag that he can exploit to help his squad win matches. He has perfected the art of googlies, which he used as a weapon against his opponents. Although everyone knows what’s going to happen, they are still helpless against it and he still manages to execute the play. His economy rate in the T20 cricket betting is 6.14. And at just 21 years old, the future is bright for this young man. He plays for Barbados Tridents.
4. Colin Munro — One thing to describe the 33-year-old unorthodox batter is fearless. It can work to his squad’s favour or it could not. But fans love it because it is always exciting. Although he started off slow in the New Zealand domestic circuit, he started to make a name for himself starting in 2017 when his style of play translated into wins. For instance, he is the only New Zealander who notched multiple T20I centuries. He also scored his third century in West Indian bowling. The South African will really help the Trinbago Knight Riders establish their dominance in the league.
Knowing which players to look out for will help make an educated decision in CPL T20 spread betting, and minimise your risks.
