CPL 2025 Archives

Rizwan’s fighting fifty in vain as Kings thrash Patriots in CPL 2025

GROS ISLET: A resilient half-century from Mohammad Rizwan could not save St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from yet another setback, as they went down by seven wickets to St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Opting to bat first, the Patriots put up a respectable 177-3 in their 20 overs, with Rizwan leading the charge.

The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten on 60 off 41 deliveries, striking three boundaries and four sixes, while skipper Jason Holder added a quick-fire 21 from 14 balls.

Earlier, openers Andre Fletcher (37 off 23) and Evin Lewis (18) provided a steady 47-run start, followed by Kyle Mayers’ 27 off 25.

For the Kings, Tabraiz Shamsi delivered a miserly spell, finishing with 2-17 in his four overs, while Roston Chase chipped in with a wicket.

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In response, the Kings made the chase look effortless, cruising home in just 17 overs. Openers Johnson Charles and Tim Seifert set the tone with a blazing 85-run stand inside seven overs.

Charles smashed 47 off only 17 balls before Waqar Salamkheil broke through, but Seifert anchored the innings with a fluent 68 off 45 deliveries.

Ackeem Auguste added 29 from 20, while Chase (15*) and Tim David (16*) applied the finishing touches.

Naseem Shah was the pick of the bowlers for the Patriots, claiming 2-35, while Salamkheil took one wicket.

The result leaves Holder’s St Kitts and Nevis Patriots languishing in fifth place with just two wins from seven outings.

Meanwhile, St Lucia Kings climbed to the top of the standings with three wins, one defeat, and two no results from six matches.

READ: Commentary panel unveiled for tri-series featuring Pakistan, UAE and Afghanistan

WATCH: Romario Shepherd scores 22 runs off one legal delivery in CPL 2025

ST LUCIA: All-rounder Romario Shepherd achieved a rare feat, scoring 22 runs from one legal delivery bowled by Oshane Thomas in the 13th fixture of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 here at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet.

Shepherd, playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors, scored 73 off 34 balls, hitting seven sixes and five fours.

However, the most entertaining part of his knock came in the 15th over of the match, where he took fast bowler Oshane Thomas to the cleaners.

Oshane Thomas had to bowl the third delivery of the over five times. The pacer started with a no-ball before bowling a wide delivery. He followed this with another front-foot no ball as Shepherd pounced on it and smashed it for a six.

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Romario Shepherd smacked another no-ball from Thomas for a huge six as the drama continued.

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The right-arm pacer finally managed to bowl a legal delivery, which Shepherd also hit over square leg for a 95-meter six; hence the one ball costing 22 runs.

After a dot ball and single, Iftikhar Ahmed hit a six from the final ball to take the over tally to 33 runs.

Notably, this was not the first time that Thomas had bowled a bizarre over.

During the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in 2024, Oshane Thomas also conceded an unusual 15 runs off just one legitimate ball.

However, Romario Shepherd’s innings went in vain as St Lucia Kings chased down the daunting total of 203-6 in 18.1 overs.

Ackeem Auguste starred with the bat, scoring a blistering knock off 73 from 35 balls, with the help of four sixes and half a dozen fours.

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Mohammad Amir reaches 400 T20 wickets milestone in CPL 2025

ANTIGUA: Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has achieved a 400-wicket milestone during the seventh fixture of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025.

The left-arm pacer, who is representing Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the tournament, dismissed Fabian Allen to reach the 400 T20 wickets milestone against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, on Wednesday.

With this feat, Amir etched his name into Pakistan’s history books by becoming the second pacer to achieve this feat.

Mohammad Amir reached the milestone in his 343rd match, and with his achievement, he now sits in ninth place on the all-time wicket takers list in the shorter format of the game.

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Wahab Riaz is currently leading the wickets chart for Pakistan in T20,with 413 wickets to his name in 348 matches.

Leading Wicket Takers in T20 cricket for Pakistan

Wahab Riaz 348 matches 413 wickets

Mohammad Amir 343 matches 400 wickets*

Sohail Tanvir 388 matches 389 wickets

Imad Wasim 405 matches 375 wickets

Shahid Afridi 329 matches 347 wickets

The 33-year-old pacer returned with the figures four for 31 in his quota of four overs as his team ended on the losing side.

Put into bat first in the seventh fixture of CPL 2025, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons scored 167-6 in their allocated 20 overs.

Skipper Imad Wasim and Fabian Allen were the notable contributors as the former made an unbeaten 39 from 27, whereas the latter quick-fire 45-run knock from just 20 balls ensured that their team reached a winning total.

In reply, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons fell eight runs short of the target despite veteran Kieron Pollard’s blitz.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons could only manage to score 159-6 in their 20 overs with Pollard demonstrating a vintage display, smashing four sixes and three fours in his knock of 43 from 28 deliveries.

READ: Pakistan announce Junior Padel squad for World Cup in Spain

Mohammad Rizwan set to join St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for CPL remainder

Pakistan wicket-keeper batter and former T20I captain Mohammad Rizwan is set to join St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025, ESPNcricinfo reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, the league will confirm Rizwan’s signing in the next 24 hours.

Mohammad Rizwan has been roped in as a replacement player for pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who is set to join the Afghanistan team ahead of the tri-series in the United Arab Emirates involving Pakistan and the UAE.

The right-handed batter will be in action in the CPL for the first time, highlighting the growing presence of Pakistani players in the league.

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Rizwan will join his compatriots, Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi, in the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Last week, leg-spinner Usama Mir signed for the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, with Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, and Salman Irshad also featuring in the tournament.

It is pertinent to note that the Pakistan Cricket Board has established a regulation allowing centrally contracted players to participate in a maximum of two overseas T20 leagues within a 12-month period.

This will be Mohammad Rizwan’s second league, as he had previously signed with the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League 2025.

Pakistan players to feature in CPL 2025

Naseem Shah, Mohammad Nawaz (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots), Imad Wasim (Antigua and Barbuda Falcons), Mohammad Amir, and Usman Tariq (Trinbago Knight Riders).

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CPL 2025: Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi shine but Patriots fall to Warriors

BASSETERRE: Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah and all-rounder Abbas Afridi impressed with the ball, but their efforts went unrewarded as the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots faltered in their Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 clash against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Friday.

After opting to bowl first, Warriors’ skipper Imran Tahir restricted the Patriots to 153/8 in 20 overs.

Opener Andre Fletcher led the charge with a brisk 60 off 41 balls, featuring five sixes and a four, while Jyd Goolie chipped in with 24 off 15.

However, the rest of the batting lineup struggled, with only Rilee Rossouw (12) and Abbas Afridi (10) managing double figures.

Dwaine Pretorius spearheaded the bowling with 3/43, while Tahir claimed 2/29 in his four-over spell, which also included a maiden.

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Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd, and Gudakesh Motie took a wicket apiece.

In reply, the Warriors made light work of the chase, overhauling the target in 17.2 overs with five wickets to spare.

Opener Ben McDermott blazed 75 off 39 balls, hammering 10 fours and four sixes, before Shai Hope (56 off 39) sealed the win with authority.

For the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Abbas Afridi returned figures of 2/24 from his two overs, while Naseem Shah impressed with 1/19 in three.

Fazalhaq Farooqi and Waqar Salamkheil picked up a wicket each, but the combined effort could not prevent defeat in their second clash in the CPL 2025.

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