NEWS
Follow UsTrinbago Knight Riders have secured the Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues and seam bowler Shikha Pandey for the 2024 edition of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). Australian batter Meg Lanning and left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen are the other overseas players in the TKR squad before the player draft later this month.
All four players were teammates in Delhi Capitals’ squad in the two seasons of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), in which Delhi played the final both times.
"This is the first time I'll be coming to the WCPL. I've played for India in the Caribbean quite a bit, but I'm really excited that I'll be representing the Knight Riders in WCPL," Rodrigues said. "We all know the legacy that they have across the globe. Even the TKR Women's team, champions of 2022, are a very proud side. I believe this tournament is also going to serve as a very good preparation for us leading up to the Women's World T20 in October, with some of the best players in the world taking part in the competition."
Among the local players, TKR have retained Deandra Dottin, Shamila Connell, Kycia Knight, Zaida James and Samara Ramnath. With nine players sealed, they have six more slots to fill in the upcoming player draft.
"We are very excited to be able to retain the core of our local Caribbean players and sign up four world-renowned overseas players for this year's Women's CPL," Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders Group, said in a statement. "Great to have Deandra Dottin captaining the team once again. She has been a fantastic leader of the side since the inaugural year, having played a crucial role both as captain and player since our title victory in 2022.
"Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey will add volumes to the quality of the tournament, and we are very thankful to the BCCI for facilitating their first-ever appearance in the WCPL. The addition of these two big Indian names, along with superstars Meg Lanning and Jess Jonassen should excite cricket enthusiasts around the world, as we look forward to welcoming them all in TKR's red and black this August."
TKR won the three-team tournament in 2022 but missed out on the final last time, losing three of their four league games. This year, the tournament will be held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from August 21 to August 29.
Trinbago Knight Riders' squad before the draft:
Deandra Dottin, Meg Lanning, Jess Jonassen, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikha Pandey, Kycia Knight, Shamila Connell, Zaida James, Samara Ramnath
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
