In most successful T20 teams, wrist spinners have played pivotal roles. Tridents are equipped with two quality leggies in Hayden Walsh Jr. and Rashid Khan. Walsh, who played an important role for Tridents in the 2019 CPL, ended with 22 wickets in nine matches at a brilliant average of 12.7. He took a best bowling figure of 5-19.
Meanwhile, Khan has been a dominant force to reckon with in T20s, having played 211 matches globally and picked up 296 wickets at a tender age of 21. Khan is no stranger to CPL.
In 2017 he played for Guyana Amazon Warriors and made an immediate impact, picking up 14 wickets, including the tournament’s first ever hat trick.
Holder disclosed that Tridents are expecting big things from this duo in the 2020 CPL. “Hayden was last year’s ‘player of the tournament’ and Rashid is a world class leg-spinner. We expect big things from both of them, and they are looking forward to bowling in tandem. It is a matter for them to execute and lead the charge,” Holder said.
With CPL being a condensed tournament, Holder said the bench strength will be tested, and these are all factors that the team is considering.
During Holder’s first media engagement of the tournament, the captain of the defending champions, Barbados Tridents, said his team had one practice session thus far, and the preparation has been strange. Holder and his Tridents have been limited to full use of the facility since the rain has been around.
The West Indies Test captain is fully aware that this tournament is different because of the COVID-19 protocols. “We understand that this tournament will be different from the other tournaments, and we have to make use of the resources we have,” Holder said.
Fresh from a bio-secure bubble in England, Holder said the CPL bubble is different, and more restrictions are in place, in contrast to what had obtained in England. Last year is history for the current CPL title holders. Captain Holder explained that the last season was good, but come this season, Tridents will be aiming to defend the trophy.