There are a number of reasons why T20 cricket leagues are so important for young players. First, they provide a platform for young players to play against the best players in the world. This helps them to learn and improve their game.
Second, they offer young players the opportunity to earn money and support themselves and their families. Third, they give young players the chance to gain exposure to a wider audience. This can help them to build their brands and marketability.
Cricket in the West Indies is struggling and the hope only lies with the young cricketers who hope to make it to the national team. The top bookmakers in India have CPL odds with them.
The new season of the Caribbean Premier League has started and all the eyes will be on the young players who are part of the tournament.
1) Alick Athanaze (Barbados Royals)
Alick Athanaze is a promising young cricketer with a lot of potential. He is a hard-hitting batsman who can score quickly in the T20 format. He is also a useful bowler who can provide his team with some control in the middle overs.
Athanaze has already made headlines as he joined the list of βscoring fastest half-century in the debut matchβ. He was also the part of Test squad against team India for West Indies and Indiaβs top spinner R. Ashwin stated after the match that he is one of the brightest futures for West Indies.
Alick currently plays for Barbados Royals and is expected to do some major damage to the opposition.
2) Kevin Wickham (Barbados Royals)
Another Barbados Royals player who will be in the spotlight in CPL 2023 is Kevin Wickham. This will be his first season of the tournament and he is expected to make a huge impact for the team.
The allrounder has been part of West Indies first-class cricket and in 6 matches, he has scored 214 runs at an average of 23.77 and a strike rate of 47.66. His stats also include a century.
Barbados Royals will be using him as a middle-order batsman and a pacer who can control the run rate of the opposition and give an advantage to the team.
3) Kofi James (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots)
Kofi James has been a result of the Patriotsβ development side and was scouted by the team at a very early stage. He started as a finisher and a lower-order batsman but now, Kofi is ready to be a number 4 or number 3 batter and can take responsibility to do the major damage to the opposition at the start of the game.
During the Cool & Smooth T20 tournament, he was the highest scorer with 330 runs in 9 matches and his innings included a century as well. James can also be used as an off-spinner and according to coach Rangarajan, James can bowl spin with a good pace.
4) Nicholson Gordon (Jamaica Tallawahs)
The only player who is not young on the list, Nicholson Gordon, is a late bloomer. He is 31 but has finally made it to the spotlight. In CPL 2022, Gordon got an opportunity in the absence of Mohammad Amir, to show his true class and help Tallawahs to lift the trophy.
He is the kind of bowler who can display a higher economy but has the ability to pick wickets at the right time and can put the opposition in major trouble with the new ball.
5) Matthew Forde (St Lucia Kings)
Matthew Forde is already a key member of the West Indies cricket team and he has been part of 12 T20 internationals and has picked up 15 wickets at an economy of 6.03.
Forde has a bright future as he is a very special kind of bowler. He has hard lengths and can bowl deceptive slower cutters.
It is because of the same skills, that Forde is now on the radar of other T20 cricket leagues and soon will be seen playing in IPL.
