Andre Russell will be back in the colours of the Jamaica Tallawahs for the 2018 season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after being drafted in the first round of the CPL Draft on Thursday. Russell missed the 2017 edition of the CPL as he was serving a ban for an anti-doping whereabouts violation. Having completed his punishment, he will once again return for his 5th season with the Jamaican franchise.
He will join the likes of Shahid Afridi, David Miller and Ross Taylor who were also drafted for the Tallawahs. The seven returning players from CPL 2017 include Imad Wasim, Rovman Powell,Gglen Phillips, Andre McCarthy, Krishmar Santokie, Kennar Lewis and Oshane Thomas. The rest of the squad is completed by Samuel Badree, Kemar Roach, Johnson Charles, Steven Taylor and Stephen Jacobs.
The Jamaica Tallawahs have captured the Caribbean Premier League twice, having won it in 2013 and 2016. Last year, they finished 4th. Other players who will be making their first appearance in the league is Australian T20 star Ben Cutting who will suit up for the St.Kitts and Nevis Patriots and will join the Jamaican trio of Chris Gayle, Brandon King and Fabian Allen in the Leeward Islands.
Trinidadian Kieron Pollard will have a new home in 2018 as he will be decking out for the St.Lucia stars after spending five seasons with the Barbados Pride. Former Jamaica Tallawahs middle order batsman Chris Lynn will be heading to the defending champions to play with the Trinbago Knight Riders.
Among the other players, Chadwick Walton was retained by the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Sheldon Cottrell was retained by the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Nikitta Miller was held on to by the Trinbago Knight Riders. 30 year old left arm spinner Christopher Lamont has earned his first CPL contract as he will deck out for the St Lucia Stars.
After two seasons of playing with the Jamaica Talllawahs, Kesrick Williams will be playing with the St Lucia Stars alongside Lendl Simmons.