By Akeem Greene
The experienced Shakib Al Hasan will join the Guyana Amazon Warriors at some point in this season of the Caribbean Premier League after the departure of South African left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
Based on the Future Tours Programme, South Africa have tours to England and Ireland from July to September, and Bangladesh have a tour to Zimbabwe from July to August, then the Asia Cup in September, and a visit by Ireland.
CPL runs from August 31 to September 30, and according to Guyana Amazon Warriors Head Coach, Rayon Griffith, he is unsure at this stage when exactly Shamsi will depart, but does know the all-around talent of Shakib will be his replacement.
“I would not hide this one- Shamzi will be leaving at some point in the tournament, and Shakib Al Hasan, another spinner, will join us and he brings batting, which will make the team stronger,” Griffith stated in a recent exclusive interview.
The 35-year-old Shakib has played for the now Barbados Royals and Jamaica Tallawahs in the past.
In 367 Twenty20 matches, he has scored close to 6,000 runs with a strike rate of 121.59 and taken 418 wickets with an economy rate of 6.78.
Griffith indicated that other overseas players could leave the tournament midway, but that hinges on the form they display.
The World T20 in Australia is from October 16 to November 13, and international teams in their preparation could request some of their fringe players who are in-form.
