CPL 2025: Mohammad Rizwan signed to Patriots

CASTRIES: Former Pakistan T20I captain, Mohammad Rizwan, joined St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the rest of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 season.  

He replaced Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi who left to join his national team for a tri-series in the UAE.

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Rizwan marked his CPL debut with the latest signing. The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batts was left out of Pakistan’s T20 sqaud for the UAE tri-series and the Asia Cup. This cleared the way for him to play in the overseas leagues.

Under Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rules, centrally contracted players can only take part in two overseas T20 leagues in a 12-mnth period.

Mohammad Rizwan has now reached that limit. Earlier this year, he signed with the Melbourne Renegades for the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.

The Patriots have struggled this season. They started with a win but then lost three matches in a row. They stand near the bottom of the points table.

Rizwan’s arrival brings experience and leadership to the beleaguered team. Patriots have previously won the CPL twice, in 2017 and 2021.

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The 33-year-old leads the Multan Sultans in Pakistan Super League (PSL). He guided them to their first PSL title in 2021. Over 93 PSL matches, he scored 2,770 runs at an average above 40.

He has his 21 half-centuries and two centuries.

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The Patriots already have two other Pakistani players: fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi. Elsewhere in the CPL, Pakistani players Usama Mir, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Salman Irshad are also taking part.

The CPL is expected to confirm Rizwan’s singing soon.