Pooran, Pollard return for TKR

The Trinbago Knight Riders will soon be boosted in their Caribbean Premier League title defense with the arrival of three key players. According to the TKR camp, regular captain Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard and spinner Usman Tariq will join up with the team in Jamaica on Friday. The trio had been fulfilling commitments in the Hundred tournament in England and missed the Knight Riders’ opening match against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots last Saturday.

Led by Akeal Hosein in that match, TKR beat the Patriots by 19 runs in a rain-affected match on the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method at Arnos Vale, St Vincent. The Knight Riders next face new team, the Jamaica Kingsmen at Sabina Park on Saturday night. Pooran (426) and Pollard (383) were among the CPL’s top run-scorers last season, while Tariq took 20 wickets, a haul which was second only to Imran Tahir of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The players are expected to be available to play Friday against the Kingsmen who have lost their opening two matches. However, there are still doubts over the fitness of all-rounder Justin Greaves who is being assessed by the medical staff following a groin injury picked up in the Test series against Pakistan.

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BENCH STRENGTH

Hosein praises squad as champs TKR beat Patriots

Trinbago Knight Riders stand-in captain Akeal Hosein believes Saturday night’s 19-run victory over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League opener was a strong indication that TKR’s bench strength can carry them through the early stages of their title defence.

With captain Nicholas Pooran and veteran Kieron Pollard among the headline names unavailable for the opening match, TKR turned to a largely new-look group and produced a disciplined performance to beat the Patriots by 19 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in St Vincent.

“Great feeling. Much more so to have a young team with new faces to put out that sort of bowling performance. Really happy,” Hosein said in a post-match interview.

And while he welcomed the return of TKR’s established stars, Hosein was adamant that Saturday’s performance had demonstrated there is considerable depth within the squad.