CPL 2015 Draft: Assessing Each Team's Selections

Franchises in the Caribbean Premier League have retooled for the 2015 season, after the player draft for this year’s tournament was held in Kingston, Jamaica.

With the likes of Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shahid Afridi and Jacques Kallis available for selection, teams had plenty of options with which to fill their 16-man squad.

In addition, they were able to retain four players from last year, so all six teams will have been hopeful of putting together a strong side.

Let’s take a look at how each franchise did in the draft.

Barbados Tridents

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Retained: Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Smith, Ravi Rampaul

Drafted: Jason Holder, Rayad Emrit, Dilshan Munaweera, Jonathan Carter, Justin Ontong, Ashley Nurse, Robin Peterson, Akeal Hosein, Navin Stewart, Shai Hope, Kyle Corbin.

Barbados sprung few surprises in the four they retained, with Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith sure to make up one of the most terrifying one-two punches in the league.

Meanwhile, in Shoaib Malik, they have an experienced campaigner and in Ravi Rampaul, they possess one of the best domestic seamers around.

In the draft, one of their most notable selections was Jason Holder, on the cusp of captaining the West Indies at the Cricket World Cup.

In addition, their international presence will be South Africans Justin Ontong and Robin Peterson, who will need to play a big role this year.

Guyana Amazon Warriors

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Retained: Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Christopher Barnwell

Drafted: Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thisara Perera, Brad Hodge, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devendra Bishoo, Trevon Griffith, Assad Fudadin, Paul Wintz.

On paper at least, Guyana have a very strong squad led by a trio of Sri Lankan draftees—Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thisara Perera.

Add in the extremely experienced Brad Hodge and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and they have a middle order to be reckoned with.

Their retention of Sunil Narine also means they have one of the best spinners in the world, while Denesh Ramdin exudes calm and leadership from behind the stumps.

Jamaica Tallawahs

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Retained: Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton

Drafted: Mahela Jayawardene, Chris Lynn, Daniel Vettori, Nikita Miller, Krishmar Santokie, Rusty Theron, Narsingh Deonarine, David Bernard Jr., Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Horace Miller.

The Jamaica Tallawahs drafted a strong group of players, led by Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene and closely followed by up-and-coming Australian Chris Lynn.

New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori has shown he can still play a role in the highest levels, while Krishmar Santokie has been effective in the past for the West Indies.

Rusty Theron takes up their third and final international slot, while Jermaine Blackwood and Narsingh Deonarine are two West Indians with international experience.

Then, in the retention list, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell speak for themselves in terms of what they bring to the table in Twenty20 cricket.

St. Kitts and Nevis

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Retained: Carlos Brathwaite, Devon Thomas, Orlando Peters, Justin Athanaze

Drafted: Shahid Afridi, Marlon Samuels, Sohail Tanvir, Sheldon Cottrell, Martin Guptill, Evin Lewis, Raymon Reifer, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tonito Willett, Nicholas Pooran, Jacques Taylor.

New into the league to replace the Antigua Hawksbills, St. Kitts and Nevis retained four Antigua players from last year, and made quite a splash in the player draft.

With the first overall selection, they signed Pakistani allrounder Shahid Afridi, who was one of the most highly sought-after players this year.

In addition, they added international players Sohail Tanvir and Martin Guptill, both of whom come with a strong pedigree of performing at the highest level.

On the domestic front, the additions of Marlon Samuels and Sheldon Cottrell will give them plenty to cheer ahead of their first season in the league.

St. Lucia Zouks

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Retained: Darren Sammy, Kevin Pietersen, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher

Drafted: Ross Taylor, Shakib Al Hasan, Shannon Gabriel, Henry Davids, Fidel Edwards, Kemar Roach, Shane Shillingford, Kyle Mayers, Keddy Lesporis, Liam Sebastien, Delorn Johnson.

The news that Kevin Pietersen would be available for the entire CPL season will give the St. Lucia Zouks plenty of optimism, as will their retention of three domestic stars including Darren Sammy.

Meanwhile, they have two other strong international players from the draft in the forms of Ross Taylor and Shakib Al Hasan, both of whom remain important for their countries.

Their bowling attack has a strong domestic feel, too, with Shannon Gabriel, Fidel Edwads, Kemar Roach and Shane Shillingford having all gained recognition with the West Indies.

The retention of Pietersen and his desire to play the entire tournament will serve as a tremendous boon, too, for the Zouks.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel

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Retained: Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree, Kevon Cooper

Drafted: Jacques Kallis, Johan Botha, Kamran Akmal, Cameron Delport, Sulieman Benn, Jason Mohammed, Marlon Richards, Miguel Cummins, Javon Searles, William Perkins, Derone Davis.

In retaining both Dwayne and Darren Bravo, Trinidad and Tobago have maintained a strong middle order and not been forced to use an international slot to do so.

On the international front, they have acquired Jacques Kallis, another big name draftee, while he is joined by fellow Protea Johan Botha and Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Sulieman Benn and Jason Mohammed are the biggest names among the drafted bowlers, while the Red Steel also retained spinner Samuel Badree.