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Fakhar Zaman, the opening batter for Pakistan and the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, has exited the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024.
Fakhar Zaman’s overall performance in CPL
During his stint in the CPL, Zaman emerged as the top scorer for the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. He accumulated 159 runs across five innings, with an average of 31.80 and an impressive strike rate of 133.61.
Despite Zaman’s departure, his teammates Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir will continue with the Falcons, choosing to prioritize the CPL over the domestic tournament. Additionally, Azam Khan of the Guyana Amazon Warriors has also opted to remain in the CPL.
In Fakhar’s absence, Brandon King made his debut for the Falcons at the top of the order. King, who was recovering from a side injury sustained during the 2024 T20 World Cup, made a notable return by scoring 29 runs off 16 balls. His contribution was crucial in helping the Falcons successfully chase down a target of 154 runs.
Reason why Zaman left CPL midway
Zaman has decided to prioritize home domestic league and moved in the Champions One-Day Cup. This new domestic 50-over tournament in Pakistan will take place from September 12 to 29. Zaman is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on September 10, ahead of the Champions One-Day Cup. He will join the Wolves, a team captained by Mohammad Rizwan. Zaman’s addition to the Wolves is anticipated to strengthen the squad as they compete in this new domestic 50-over tournament.
Also READ: CPL 2024: Imran Tahir, Gudakesh Motie lead Guyana Amazon Warriors to a comprehensive win over Saint Lucia Kings
Another blow for CPL
Sherfane Rutherford of the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons. This announcement was made midway through their final home game of the season against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. A replacement for Rutherford has not yet been announced.
The 26-year-old Rutherford had participated in only four games this season, scoring 35 runs with an impressive strike rate of 194.44. His departure creates a notable gap in the Patriots’ lineup. As a result, Dominic Drakes, who is primarily a bowling allrounder, was positioned at number 7 in the batting order against the Falcons.
The Patriots are currently struggling at the bottom of the points table, having won only one of their six matches. In their latest game, despite a strong performance from Sri Lankan wrist-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who took four wickets, the Patriots failed to defend a target of 153 on a challenging pitch. The team has been unable to break their losing streak at Basseterre, having lost 11 consecutive completed games at home since their CPL 2021 victory.
