The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, hit hard by injuries during the first week of CPL 2024, have been reinforced with the return of Wanindu Hasaranga and the addition of New Zealand’s power-hitting all-rounder, Josh Clarkson. Initially ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, Hasaranga had been replaced by Tabraiz Shamsi, but he now steps in for the injured Sikandar Raza. Meanwhile, Clarkson fills the void left by Tristan Stubbs, who has returned to South Africa for national duties.
Shamsi, who is also heading back to South Africa for CSA commitments, will be temporarily replaced by Pakistan-born USA wrist-spinner Mohammad Mohsin. Mohsin, 28, has been impressive in Major League Cricket (MLC) for Texas Super Kings, taking 15 wickets across 14 games with a respectable economy of 7.43. Clarkson, known for his explosive hitting and his ability to bowl at a decent pace, recently earned his first New Zealand central contract. Though not yet part of the Test squad, this will be his first stint in franchise T20 cricket. Clarkson has played 89 T20 matches, amassing 1673 runs at a strike rate of 147.40 and picking up 11 wickets at an economy of 9.15.
Patriots’ head coach Malolan Rangarajan, formerly of Tamil Nadu and now also involved with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, expressed frustration over the early injuries that have disrupted the team’s balance. He highlighted the significance of Sikandar Raza’s injury, calling him a crucial part of their squad. Before Clarkson’s signing, Rangarajan noted that the team had been scrambling to find replacements amid these setbacks.
“We faced several challenges right from the start, with Sikandar’s injury and then Sherfane Rutherford missing the first game,” Malolan said. “Rilee Rossouw’s injury in the first innings further disrupted our plans. But the team has shown resilience, and we’ve responded well to the difficulties thrown our way.”
Despite starting the season with a nail-biting last-ball victory against Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, the Patriots faced consecutive losses at home to Trinbago Knight Riders and St Lucia Kings. They posted 200-plus totals in both defeats, but their bowling struggled, and their fielding let them down, with at least seven dropped catches. Captain Andre Fletcher has called for the team to step up and improve their execution.
Fletcher pointed out that while the bowling unit has put in the work, including practising in wet conditions and focusing on death bowling, the key issue has been execution during games. “We’ve been working hard, and the effort has been there, but ultimately, it comes down to how well we execute,” Fletcher explained. “I’m confident we can turn things around.”
With the addition of Clarkson and the return of Hasaranga, the Patriots hope to regain their momentum and improve on both ends of the field.