Irfan Pathan became the first Indian player to enrol in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft. The Indian all-rounder is the only player from the country to feature in the record-breaking draft, which includes 536 players.
20 overseas countries, including the USA and Oman, have representation in the CPL 2019 draft. The season will begin on September 4.
Pathan has not been a part of the Indian Premier League for the past two seasons. His last appearance in the tournament came for Gujarat Lions in 2017.
The all-rounder did a commentary stint in this year’s IPL.
Big names in the CPL draft this year include West Indian stars like Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sunil Narine and Shai Hope. Alex Hales, Rashid Khan, Shakib Al Hasan and Jofra Archer are some of the marquee players among the overseas contingent.
Michael Hall, the CPL tournament operations director, commended the high standard of cricket in the league, stating that the record-breaking number sets the stage for a successful season.
“The fact that so many players have registered for our draft is a testament to the stature of our league. Playing cricket in the Caribbean is something that all players look forward to, and the CPL combines that allure with a high standard of cricket. We expect that this year’s tournament will be no different,” Hall said.
Players from associate nations like Nepal, Hong Kong, Kenya and Canada are also up for grabs in the CPL this season.
