In a major boost for the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), Chris Jordan is set to return just in time for the CPL 2024 home matches, commencing on September 18. The Barbados-born England bowler, who previously featured in five games for TKR in 2019, took seven wickets at an economy of 9.05 during the team’s playoff run, where they were eliminated by the eventual champions, Barbados.
At 35 years old, Jordan steps in for USA fast bowler Ali Khan, who will miss the entirety of the CPL 2024 season due to injury. Earlier this year, Jordan made headlines as the first English player to secure a T20I hat-trick in a World Cup match against the USA.
Meanwhile, the defending champions, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, are facing a challenge with captain Imran Tahir sidelined for approximately ten days due to injury. At 45, Tahir is the oldest competitor in the CPL and recently missed the team’s last match against the Barbados Royals. In his absence, Shai Hope, who stepped up as captain during that match, will continue to lead the team.
Additionally, allrounder Romario Shepherd is currently recovering from a toe injury sustained in practice. Shepherd was instrumental in the Warriors' title victory last season but has only participated in one match this season, where he scored 32 runs off 16 balls in North Sound.
To temporarily fill Tahir's position, the Warriors have signed Nathan Sowter, an Australian-born English wrist-spinner. Sowter, a former New South Wales Under-23 representative, has made a name for himself in franchise cricket by winning consecutive titles with Tom Moody at Oval Invincibles. He also collaborated with Moody at the Desert Vipers during the ILT20 2024 season, earning the nickname "Racing Snake" for his exceptional fielding abilities.
Following the recent loss to the Royals, Hope acknowledged the challenges posed by Tahir's absence but expressed confidence in the team's adaptability. "We've got to find ways to penetrate in the middle," he stated. "Losing Imran Tahir is a significant hurdle as he was a key player in the middle overs, but we must focus on what we have and strategize to take wickets. As we prepare to face TKR, we must finish strong in the death overs and manage our batting effectively."