Imran Khan.
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force leg-spinner Imran Khan has hinted that the 2024 West Indies Championship could be his last.
A stalwart in regional cricket, the 39-year-old Khan has played 113 first-class matches, taking 450 wickets, a milestone he achieved in the final game of the 2023 West Indies Championship against Jamaica Scorpions at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
Khan also had 71 wickets in 53 List A games. With the bat, Khan has 3,622 runs with a lone century of 125. He also has a half-century in List A cricket.
Asked if he was thinking about the time he has left in the game, “I haven’t set a time frame to step away,” was his response in an interview with the Trinidad Express recently.
“I’m still fit and wanting to play. I’ve always put Trinidad and Tobago cricket first for many decades however, I know the time will come soon for me to step down to make way for younger players, but I’ll still like to be around to share my experience and knowledge,” he said.
Khan made his first-class debut as an opening batsman in 2005 and was part of the 2006 T&T squad that won the regional first-class competition, the last time the country has done so to date.
“In 2024, I am looking forward to the four-day and possibly another Super50 tournament, maybe my last, and of course maintaining my fitness and ensuring that I continue to pass each fitness test will be key,” he said.
Despite his regional success, Khan never represented the West Indies at the highest level and accepts that, at 39, that dream is likely over.
“I guess the dream playing for West Indies is over, safe to say...but I’ll like to be around to share my knowledge. Now I’ll like to explore more franchise cricket. Clearly, I have what it takes to perform,” he said.
“Yes, I have achieved being one of the best all-rounders regionally; I have several accolades to prove that, but it always will hurt that I never got the opportunity to play for West Indies. I did everything required of me, but God has a better plan,” he added.
He most recently represented the Manipal Tigers in the Legends League T20 in India from November-December last year, taking nine wickets in five matches for the eventual champions.
Khan didn’t feature in the Super50 for the Red Force towards the end of 2024 and played four out of five matches for the franchise in the West Indies Championship at the start of the year, grabbing 13 wickets with a best of four for 47.
Off-spinner Bryan Charles was the top bowler for T&T in the four-day competition, taking 21 wickets in five matches.
“I wasn’t selected in the playing 11 for the first four-day game, but I used that to get mentally stronger, which showed in my performance with the bat and ball,” Khan explained.
Having missed the season opener, Khan scored 92, his 15th first-class half-century, against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
“I really wanted to score runs this year and I definitely did. Of course, not being selected for the squad for 50 overs was disappointing but I’m happy the team won,” said Khan.
“However, not being selected for that tournament, other doors opened...I had a great Legends League tournament finishing with most wickets and the title. I’ll say 2023 has been good to me,” he added.
Jeremiah Louis set to reunite with brother Mikyle at St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for CPL 2024
Seamer Jeremiah Louis is set to join his younger brother Mikyle at the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), marking the first time the Louis brothers could potentially play together in the tournament. Jeremiah, 28, has been drafted into the Patriots squad as a replacement for Sherfane Rutherford, who has withdrawn from the competition due to personal reasons.
Jeremiah's inclusion adds depth to the Patriots' bowling attack and brings a wealth of experience to the team. Having played six CPL games between 2016 and 2022, Jeremiah has taken three wickets at an average of 38.66, with an economy rate of 9.66. In addition to his CPL experience, Jeremiah also represented the Patriots in the 6IXTY competition, where he took four wickets in five matches in 2022, although he struggled with an economy rate of 10.68.
Despite his presence in the shorter formats, Jeremiah is best known for his red-ball prowess. Over 57 first-class matches, he has amassed 151 wickets at an impressive average of 25.43. His red-ball form earned him a call-up to the West Indies Test squad for their recent tour of England, though injury unfortunately ruled him out before the tour commenced.
While Mikyle Louis made his CPL and T20 debut this season, the chance to play alongside his older brother will be a special moment for both siblings. The addition of Jeremiah brings another dynamic to the Patriots' squad, as the team looks to build momentum in the CPL 2024 season.
The reunion of the Louis brothers promises to be a highlight of the tournament, with fans eager to see how the siblings combine their talents on the field for the Patriots.
ICC launches ‘Whatever It Takes’ campaign to celebrate players elite mentality ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday launched ‘Whatever It Takes’, a campaign designed to build excitement and anticipation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled for October 3-20 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Showcasing the dedication, focus, and relentless pursuit of excellence that defines the world’s best cricketers, the campaign provides fans a glimpse into the efforts undertaken by players as they prepare to take their place on the world stage.
The ‘Whatever It Takes’ campaign comprises a series of films featuring a trio of world-class cricketers—India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, and India’s Shafali Verma—each renowned for their talent and commitment to the game. Through powerful visuals and inspiring narratives, the campaign captures the essence of their journeys, revealing the sacrifices made, the challenges overcome, and the self-belief that drives them towards greatness.
From gruelling training sessions to intensive competition on the field, ‘Whatever It Takes’ embodies the sacrifices that cricketers make in their pursuit of being crowned world champions. It underscores the understanding that success at the highest level is not merely a product of talent but the result of dedication, perseverance, and an individual’s determination to break boundaries.
ICC General Manager: Marketing and Communications, Claire Furlong, said the campaign adds to what promises to be a spectacular tournament.
“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is the pinnacle of the T20 format, and we’re looking forward to having the world’s best players on display in Dubai and Sharjah throughout October. The ‘Whatever It Takes’ campaign embodies the spirit and objectives of the ICC’s Women’s Cricket Strategy, which aims to grow the women’s game by improving its visibility, perception, and awareness for cricket fans around the world," said Furlong.
“We are committed to delivering a world-class event that will usher in a new generation of heroes while providing fans with an unforgettable experience on every match day. ‘Whatever It Takes’ is not just about who lifts the trophy at Dubai International Stadium on October 20; it is about the journey, the sacrifices, and the pursuit of greatness. It is about inspiring a new generation of cricketers, dreamers, and achievers," she added.
Phillip takes 2 wickets, makes 41 on debut but Lancashire suffer innings and 63-run loss to Durham in County Championship Division 1
Trinidadian pacer Anderson Phillip took two wickets in his debut for County Championship outfit Lancashire but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from going down by an innings and 63 runs to Durham in their Division 1 encounter from September 9-12 at the Riverside Ground in Chester-Le-Street.
Durham, after winning the toss and electing to field first, restricted Lancashire to 228 all out in 94.3 overs.
Matty Hurst led the way with 90 while Josh Bohannon made 49 against 5-44 off 25 overs from medium pacer Ben Raine and 3-58 off 26 overs from Matthew Potts, who recently represented England in their Test series against Sri Lanka.
Durham then put themselves in a dominant position with the bat, putting the Lancashire bowlers to the sword on the way to a mammoth 573-9 in 135.3 overs before declaring with a lead of 345 runs.
South Africa Test batsman David Bedingham led the way with a career best first class score of 279 off 359 balls including 27 fours and a six.
Netherlands all-rounder Colin Ackerman provided excellent support for Bedingham with 186 off 312 balls including 17 fours.
Spinner Luke Wells took 4-69 off 13.3 overs while Phillip took 2-101 off his 21 overs.
A career best spell from Matthew Potts then steered Durham to an innings win.
The medium pacer ran through the Lancashire batting on the way to figures of 9-68 from his 24.2 overs.
Similar to the first innings, Matty Hurst and Josh Bohannon led the way with the bat for Lancashire with 67 and 56, respectively.
Anderson Phillip showed fight with a 68-ball 41 batting at number 10.
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