CPL 2024: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots sign Wanindu Hasaranga and Rilee Rossouw

The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have made a major statement of intent ahead of the upcoming Caribbean Premier League 2024. They have signed Sri Lankan leg-spinner and skipper Wanindu Hasaranga and South African batter Rilee Rossouw. The star duo headline an impressive list of retained and signed players as the Patriots aim to lift their second CPL title.

Hasaranga, currently ranked as the No.2 ICC T20I bowler, has established himself as one of the most feared spin bowlers in world cricket. The 26-year-old's variations and wicket-taking ability will make him a major threat to opposition batters in the CPL. The mystery spinner has picked 247 wickets across 177 T20s.

Rossouw, meanwhile, has been in good form over the past year in T20 franchise leagues around the world. The explosive left-hander will provide the Patriots with an x-factor at the top of the order. In 340 T20s, the 34-year-old has smashed 8448 runs, including six centuries and 50 half-century.

Also read: Saint Lucia Kings sign Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots also retain Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, and Andre Fletcher

The Patriots have also retained the services of West Indian stars like Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, and Andre Fletcher to provide experience and firepower. Rutherford, who was re-signed after a standout 2023 season, will get the chance to play alongside the new overseas recruits. 

Joining the squad are exciting overseas talents like Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza, Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Thushara, and South African batter Tristan Stubbs. The Patriots have retained 13 players already, with four more spots to fill at July's draft.

Patriots have also retained openers Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher for the upcoming season. They have also acquired the services of all-rounder Odean Smith, who has been transferred from the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

After a four-year gap, the tournament will visit six host nations this time around, with matches scheduled to take place in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Also read: Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope among nine retained players for Guyana Amazon Warriors

Full list of players retained by St Kitts & Nevis Patriots:

Wanindu Hasaranga, Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Sikandar Raza, Nuwan Thusara, Andre Fletcher, Tristan Stubbs, Dominic Drakes, Odean Smith, Joshua da Silva, Ashmead Nedd, Johann Layne.