Afridi pulls out of Tallawahs squad for 2018 CPL

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi will not turn-out for the Jamaica Tallawahs in this year's Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 according to team officials. The all-rounder recently captained the ICC World XI in a hurricane relief game against the West Indies at Lord’s and showed signs of recovery from a knee injury. However, with the CPL set to bowl off in Trinidad on Wednesday, the Tallawahs have been forced to look elsewhere.

“It has been sorted out but until he (the replacement player) gets on the plane in Trinidad, there’s no comment about whom it is. He’s meeting us in Trinidad and an announcement will come through from the franchise later,” said head coach Mark O'Donnell.

O’Donnell who takes over as head coach from Paul Nixon, hinted that the replacement will not be like for like. “Obviously primarily a bowler. I still think it helps over here this time of the year with some of the surfaces,” he said.

The Tallawahs are set to leave the island on Wednesday for the start of the CPL in Trinidad and Tobago. The team will take on the Trinbago Knight Riders in their opener on Friday.