Two-time Caribbean Premier League (CPL) champions Jamaica Tallawahs suffered “a big loss” even before the start of the CPL 2020, as their assistant coach Ramnaresh Sarwan opted out of the upcoming tournament owing to personal reasons.
The CPL 2020 is set to become the first major T20 league to be held amid coronavirus pandemic when the tournament gets underway from August 18 across the two venues in Trinidad & Tobago with the Jamaica Tallawahs will begin their CPL 2020 campaign against St Lucia Zouks on August 19.
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On Thursday (August 13), Michael Hall, CPL Director of Operations, has confirmed that Sarwan was granted personal leave to travel home to Guyana after the former West Indian cricketer requested the authorities for an exit from the bio-secure bubble in Trinidad.
Sarwan was replaced by Vinod Maharaj and Ryan Austin as assistants to Tallawahs head coach Floyd Reifer for the upcoming season of the CPL 2020.
Tallawahs CEO Jeff Miller told Trinidad Newsday: “Sarwan requested leave for personal reasons and that was granted. Yes, it's a big loss. Sars (Sarwan) brings a lot to the game - his knowledge, his experience, and the way he has dealt with the players over the years, so it is a great loss.”
He also commented on the recent bitter public feud between Chris Gayle and Sarwan: “That [dispute] is behind us. We have 12 new players on our franchise this year from last year, so there is no baggage from last year. We are focused this year and the guys are focused on CPL, not what happened in the past.”
Gayle blamed Sarwan for his unceremonious exit from Tallawahs and later, former West Indies batsman hit back the hard-hitter by calling the allegations scandalous. Following the controversy, Gayle moved to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots before eventually pulling out of the CPL 2020 due to personal reasons.
Well, this was a big blow to the Tallawahs’ hopes to add a third CPL title to their cabinet which is already decorated with trophies in 2013 and 2016, but Miller insisted that they have moved on from it and looking forward to having a great CPL season this year.
He concluded, “We are going to look to move forward. This is a rebuilding year for us, [but] I don't just want to say rebuilding. We are here to win the tournament. I think we have a great team and the guys are keen and ready to go, and let's see at the end what happens, but we are definitely looking forward to having a great tournament this year.”
Noteworthy, Jamaica Tallawahs under Rovman Powell will kick-start their CPL 2020 campaign against St Lucia Zouks on August 19 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
