Brendan Ross Murray Taylor has been finalized as the replacement for the sidelined Chris Gayle while Dale Willem Steyn has also been contracted by Kandy Tuskers(KT) as seventh overseas player, after their key player Chris Gayle pulled out from the Lanka Premier League(LPL) tournament pronouncing his non-availability due to a hamstring injury while practicing in Dubai.
Brendan Taylor is a Zimbabwean international cricketer and a former Zimbabwean captain, who plays all formats of the game. Taylor is a right-handed batsman but is also an off spinner. The KT initially short listed two players Taylor and Sean Colin Williams as the replacement for Gayle and finally decided to go sign up with Taylor.
The 37-year-old Dale Steyn, the South African fast bowler too has been called to join them after the Pakistani seamer, Sohail Tanvir was tested positive for Covid-19 and subsequently had to undergo a self-quarantine in his hotel in Hambantota. As per team sources he is likely to miss at least three matches. Steyn was one of the key fast bowlers for his National team and played in 93 test and 125 one day matches before he retired from Test cricket last year.
Meanwhile, CCC and Sri Lankan left arm seamer Vishwa Fernando and BRC’s unorthodox action spinner Kevin Kotthegoda too have been contracted by them as the other local players. They are led by Kusal Janith Perera, the dashing left handed Sri Lankan batsman who will play Colombo Kings in their curtain raiser fixture on November 26 at the MRICS in Hambanthota under lights at 19.30 p.m.
Speaking to Daily News Parveez Maharoof, Cricket Director and Team Manager of KT said that “The pull out of Chris Gayle was a setback for us in our team combination. Yet we are pretty confident as a unit with the imbibed players what we have. Inclusion of Dane Steyn and Brendan Taylor will no doubt add experience and the firepower for our team.”
“We also have some talented local lads with youth and experience which will be another added advantage in our team building. With this pandemic with all the hardships it is glad that the tournament is on for the betterment of Sri Lanka cricket which will be a great exposure for our youth and experienced players. On behalf of the KT, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sports and Health Ministers and its officials, ICC, SLC and the event organizers IPG for making this event a reality.” Maharoof further Added.
The Kandy Tuskers squad: Kusal Janith Perera(Capt.), Irfan Pathan, Brendan Taylor, Dale Steyn, Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna, Asela Gunaratne, Naveen-Ul-Haq, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kamindu Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Priyamal Perera, Kavisha Anjula, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nishan Madushka Fernando, Chamika Edirisinghe, Ishan Jayaratne, Vishwa Fernando, Kevin Kotthegoda Farveez Maharoof-Cricket Director and Team Manager, Hashan Tillekeratne-Head Coach, Nuwan Kulasekera-Bowling Coach, Lanka de Silva- Fielding Coach, Lasantha Ekanayake-Physio,
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