Best Foreign Players: Caribbean Premier League is a T20 league organized by the West Indies Cricket Board and is held in the Caribbean. It comprises of six teams which are: Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Trinbago Knight Riders, St Lucia Stars, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and Jamaica Tallawahs. It has successfully completed seven seasons and is about to host its eight-season from the 18th of August to 10th September. The Caribbean Premier League began in 2013 and has been a great success for the West Indies Cricket Board as it enables them to give opportunities to their young talents and at the same time generate better revenue.
5 Best Foreign Players in Caribbean Premier League
Similar to any other global cricket league like the Indian Premier League or the Big Bash League, world-class players from around the globe participate in the tournament. In franchise cricket, these foreign players play a very important role as they add firepower to a team and bring a truck full of experience with them. Here are the top 5 best foreign players in CPL.
5. Tabraiz Shamsi
Tabraiz Shamsi is a left-arm unorthodox spin bowler who has represented the South African national team in all three formats of the game. The 30-year-old South African has played in T20 leagues around the globe and is considered a T20 specialist. He made his international debut in June 2016 and has regularly featured in T20I’s and ODI’s.
His test career never really took off as he has only played two test matches. Shamsi played for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League from 2015 to 2018. During his spell with the team, he played 27 matches in which he took 33 wickets with an economy of 7.06. His best bowling figure in the CPL is 4 wickets for 10 runs and as a result he is at number 5 in the list for the top 5 best foreign players in CPL.
4. Glenn Phillips
Glenn Phillips the 23-year-old wicket-keeper batsmen is a New Zeland cricketer who plays for the national team. He was born in South Africa. He made his international debut for New Zeland in February 2017. He has represented New Zeland in T20I’s and ODI’s. He has been playing for Jamaica Tallawahs since the 2017 season of the CPL.
He has played a total of 28 matches for the Tallawahs in which he has scored 1007 runs at an average of 35.96. He has a strike rate is almost 140. At the mere age of 23, he has consistently scored runs in the CPL and has made it in the list for the top 5 best foreign players in CPL.
3. Sohail Tanveer
Sohail is a 35-year-old Pakistani cricketer who plays for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL. He has represented Pakistan in all three formats of the game. He is a left-arm medium-fast bowler and his unorthodox action has helped him in gaining success in the shorter format of the game. He has played more the 50 international T20 and ODI matches for Pakistan. In the CPL he has represented Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, and St Lucia Zouks.
He has played 54 matches in the CPL and has picked up 63 wickets with his best performance being 5 wickets for 3 runs. He has an economy of 6.69 in the CPL and is at number three in the list for the top 5 best foreign players in CPL.
2. Colin Munro
At number two in the list for the top 5 best foreign players in CPL is Colin Munro. The 33-year-old was born in South Africa and he plays international cricket for New Zeland. The left-handed batsman is a hard hitter of the ball and usually bats with a high strike rate. He has represented New Zealand in all three formats of the game but has found much success in white-ball cricket.
He plays for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. He has played 46 matches for them scoring 1546 runs at an unbelievable average of 40.68. He has a strike rate of 137.91. He has also featured in the IPL but hasn’t been as successful as he is in the CPL.
1. Shoaib Malik
At number one in the list for the top 5 best foreign players in CPL is a Pakistani legend, Shoaib Malik. The 38-year-old veteran has done wonders for Pakistan at the international stage. He made his debut for Pakistan in 1999 and is yet to retire from international cricket, he has had a career that has lasted for over two decades. He has played over 400 international matches and is one of the most experienced players to have played in the CPL.
He has played for Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL. He has 56 matches to his name in which he has scored 1707 runs at an average of 39.69. He has a strike rate of 121.92 in the CPL.
