St Lucia Kings Sign Heinrich Klaasen, Noor Ahmad for 2024 CPL

St Lucia Kings, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, have bolstered their squad for the 2024 season with the signings of South African batter Heinrich Klaasen and Afghanistan wristspinner Noor Ahmad. The Kings have also retained key players from their 2023 campaign, including Faf du Plessis, David Wiese, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.

Klaasen, a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, has been in exceptional form in T20 cricket since 2023. He was the second-highest run-getter in the inaugural SA20 league and impressed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 479 runs in 16 games. His strike rate in the format since 2023 is an impressive 176.80. This will be Klaasen's second stint in the CPL, having previously represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2022.

Noor Ahmad, a rising star in Afghanistan cricket, is known for his deceptive leg-spin bowling. He has represented his country in international T20 matches and has impressed with his ability to take wickets and restrict runs.

The Kings have retained the core of their Caribbean players, including Johnson Charles, Alzarri Joseph, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, and Khary Pierre. Fast bowlers Shadrack Descarte and McKenny Clarke have also been retained.

Faf du Plessis, who missed the majority of the 2023 season due to injury, will return to lead the Kings. The experienced South African batter is a key figure in the team's batting lineup.

David Wiese, the Namibian all-rounder, has been a consistent performer for the Kings. He provides valuable contributions with both bat and ball.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan batter, is known for his explosive batting style. He has the ability to accelerate the scoring rate and hit big boundaries.

The Kings have released Colin Munro, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, and Chris Sole. Munro was signed as du Plessis' replacement last year, but he failed to make a significant impact.

The 2024 CPL season will run from August 30 to October 7. The Kings will open their campaign against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on September 1 in Basseterre.

Tags: #CPL2024, #StLuciaKings, #HeinrichKlaasen, #NoorAhmad, #FafduPlessis