Pakistan Stars Strengthen Jamaica Kingsmen Squad for CPL 2026

Jamaica Kingsmen have assembled a strong Pakistani contingent for the 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), signing Pakistan internationals Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan, and Hunain Shah, the younger brother of fast bowler Naseem Shah.

The franchise has also recruited Pakistan-born USA internationals Hassan Khan and Shayan Jahangir, along with promising batter Tayyab Arif, giving the squad a significant Pakistani presence. All seven players were previously associated with Kingsmen's parent franchise, Hyderabad, which finished as runners-up in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026.

The upcoming CPL will mark Maaz Sadaqat's first appearance in an overseas T20 league outside the PSL. The left-handed top-order batter enjoyed a breakthrough PSL season, registering the highest strike rate (178.08) among players who faced at least 100 deliveries. His impressive performances also earned him maiden call-ups to Pakistan's ODI and T20I squads.

Saim Ayub returns to the CPL after a three-year gap, having enjoyed a memorable campaign in 2023 with Guyana Amazon Warriors. He finished as the tournament's second-highest run-scorer with 478 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 142.26. In recent years, Ayub has also expanded his skill set by developing into a useful spin-bowling all-rounder, adding deliveries such as the carrom ball, wrong'un, and flipper to his arsenal.

However, Ayub, Sadaqat, and Usman Khan will only be available for Jamaica Kingsmen from August 19. They will replace Shayan Jahangir and Tayyab Arif, who are scheduled to leave the squad midway through the tournament after completing their initial commitments. Hassan Khan and Hunain Shah will remain available throughout the competition.

The 2026 CPL will run from August 7 to September 20, with matches being played across Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, matching the record for the number of host nations. The tournament will overlap with The Hundred, the ETPL, and the knockout stages of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Jamaica Kingsmen will become only the second Jamaican franchise to compete in the CPL following the Jamaica Tallawahs, who ceased operations after the 2023 season. The new franchise is owned by Pakistani-American businessman Fawad Sarwar.

Earlier in the player draft, Kingsmen secured Jamaican stars Rovman Powell and Andre Russell. Powell, who captained the Tallawahs to the 2022 CPL title, will lead the new franchise, while both he and Russell arrive after helping LA Knight Riders win the 2026 Major League Cricket (MLC) title.

Another notable addition is left-arm wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes, who recently impressed on his international debut against New Zealand in Guyana and is set to make his CPL debut with Jamaica Kingsmen.

Jamaica Kingsmen Squad for CPL 2026

Rovman Powell (captain), Andre Russell, Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty, Jediah Blades, Shaqkere Parris, Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes, Romaine Morris, Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, Jeavor Royal, Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Shayan Jahangir, and Tayyab Arif.