Former Pakistan T20I captain Mohammad Rizwan has signed with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025. The wicketkeeper-batter will replace Fazalhaq Farooqi, who is set to join Afghanistan for their upcoming tri-series in the UAE involving Pakistan and the UAE.
According to reports from ESPNcricinfo, the move is expected to be officially confirmed by the CPL within the next 24 hours. It remains uncertain whether Rizwan will make his debut against the Barbados Royals on Thursday, August 21. With Pakistan leaving him out of both the Asia Cup and the UAE tri-series, Rizwan is now free to participate in the CPL without any national commitments.
Rizwan Set for Maiden CPL Appearance
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC), a formality in this case, clearing Rizwan for participation. This will mark his first stint in the CPL, joining a growing roster of Pakistan players competing in the Caribbean tournament.
“𝑴𝒐𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒅 𝑹𝒊𝒛𝒘𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒔 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒅. 𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒖𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆,” 𝒂 𝑺𝒕 𝑲𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.
The franchise already boasts two Pakistani fast bowlers, Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi, alongside other stars like Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, and Salman Irshad, strengthening the Pakistan contingent in this year’s CPL. Earlier this year, Rizwan was also confirmed as a marquee signing for the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League, completing his two overseas T20 league stints allowed for centrally contracted Pakistan players in a 12-month period.
Patriots Seek Turnaround in CPL 2025
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have had a mixed start to the tournament. After beginning with a victory, they suffered three consecutive losses and currently sit second from the bottom on the points table. The franchise, which previously claimed titles in 2017 and 2021, will be hoping Rizwan’s inclusion can help spark a turnaround in their campaign.
“𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒊𝒛𝒘𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒖𝒔,” 𝒂 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. “𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒅.”
Rizwan’s arrival is expected to give the Patriots a much-needed boost as they aim to climb the points table and challenge for the title in the remaining matches of CPL 2025.
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