Rizwan Set for CPL Debut with St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Mohammad Rizwan, the dynamic right-handed batter and captain of Pakistan’s ODI team, is poised to mark his inaugural appearance in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He has officially signed with the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the upcoming season.

Rizwan’s inclusion in the Patriots’ lineup comes as a replacement for fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Farooqi is set to represent Afghanistan in an anticipated tri-nation T20 series.

He will be joining compatriots Abbas Afridi and Naseem Shah within the Patriots’ squad, solidifying his position as the third Pakistani player to don the franchise’s colors this season.

This event marks his first foray into the CPL, adding to his prior experience in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he competed from 2017 to 2024 representing both Sylhet Strikers and Comilla Victorians.

Across 17 BPL matches, the accomplished wicketkeeper-batter has accumulated 478 runs at an impressive average of 39.83, including four half-centuries, all while maintaining a strike rate of 113.27.

On the domestic front, Rizwan leads the Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), notably steering the team to its first-ever PSL title back in 2021.

Throughout 93 PSL matches, he has amassed a remarkable 2,770 runs, maintaining an average of 42.61. This tally includes 21 half-centuries and two centuries, achieved with a striking strike rate of 128.95.

This contract also signifies that Rizwan will exhaust his permitted quota of two overseas T20 leagues, as mandated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This regulation sets the ceiling for centrally contracted players’ participation in such leagues over a 12-month period commencing in July.

Earlier in the year, it was confirmed that he would be joining the Melbourne Renegades for the next edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).

The Patriots have encountered a shaky start to the current season, clinching victory in their initial match but subsequently enduring three consecutive defeats, placing them second from the bottom in the points table. The franchise previously secured CPL titles in both 2017 and 2021.

Other Pakistani players making their presence felt in the CPL include Usama Mir, representing the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, alongside Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, and Salman Irshad.