BARBADOS - Allrounders Shahid Afridi and Jacques Kallis, batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Ross Taylor, and fast bowler Lasith Malinga were the highest-profile overseas players picked at the Caribbean Premier League 2015's players draft, in Jamaica. Afridi, in the top grade of the 11 payment brackets at the draft, was claimed by the league's new franchise from St Kitts and Nevis for $150,000.
Kallis went to Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Jayawardene to Jamaica Tallawahs, Taylor to St Lucia Zouks and Malinga to Guyana Amazon Warriors. Marlon Samuels was among the biggest local names in the draft - several others were retained by their franchises before the draft - and he was claimed by St Kitts and Nevis. The St Kitts and Nevis franchise, which replaces Antigua Hawksbills in the competition and were allowed to retain four of the Antigua squad, have also announced that they will be coached by South African Eric Simons, who has worked with Delhi Daredevils and the Indian team in coaching roles.
The teams have 24 hours after the end of the draft to exchange a player with another franchise, but they can indulge in only one such switch.
From Pakistan other picks include Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal. Left-arm all-rounder Sohail will be Afrid’s teammate in St Kitts and Nevis who splashed $80,000 for the player, who considered as the T20 specialist. Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Malik has been retained by his team in the same previous year payment bracket of $100,000 while wicket-keeper batsman went to Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel for $30,000.