Irfan Pathan finds place in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft; could make history

He was once considered to be the second Kapil Dev, thanks to his ability with both the bat and ball. After a roller coaster of a ride that his career has been, Irfan Pathan, now 34, is set to create history as his name has found a place in the players’ draft of for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2019. He will become the first Indian male cricketer to feature in an overseas league if he goes on to play in the CPL.

A record 536 players from 20 nations besides the West Indies have been listed for the CPL draft which will take place in London on May 22. The final list has been sent to the six participating teams who will be present at the draft. The 2019 edition will be the seventh in the history of the CPL which started in 2013.

CPL combines that allure with a high standard of cricket

Michael Hall, Hero CPL Tournament Operations Director, was quoted as saying: “The fact that so many players have registered for our draft is a testament to the stature of our league. Playing cricket in the Caribbean is something that all players look forward to, and the CPL combines that allure with a high standard of cricket. We expect that this year’s tournament will be no different.”

Among the 536 players in the draft for the T20 tournament are England’s Alex Hales, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, South Africa’s JP Duminy, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and others. Local biggies like Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope and Sunil Narine will also be part of the draft.

Irfan’s featuring in the fray is a first since no Indian player takes part in the overseas T20 leagues and play only in the Indian Premier League. He has featured for no less than five franchises in the IPL and a stint in the CPL will add a feather to his crown.

Pathan played in 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is and took over 300 wickets and has one international century in Tests. He also took a hat-trick against Pakistan in a Test in Karachi in 2006.

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