The Caribbean all-rounder, Andre Russell has been appointed the captain for Jamaica Tallawahs in the upcoming edition of Caribbean Premier League, beginning August 8. Andre Russell has been in a very terrific form since the 11th edition of Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders where he smashed 316 runs, scoring at an amazing strike rate of 185 plus.
On being appointed as the captain of the side, Russell said "It's a good feeling, honestly, I missed out last year due to one-year suspension. I'm looking forward to it, not just looking forward to play but looking forward to being the captain for the Jamaica Tallawahs, as well and looking forward to doing a good job."
Russell would be really excited to play as the captain of the team as he has missed the previous season of CPL because of a 12-month ban that had been imposed on him due to a doping violation.
"I always set personal goals but I don't let it out loud because I don't want to say I want 20 wickets, 30 wickets and I only get 10. It's always good to have your personal goals but I don't like to say it out loud. Every player want to get wickets, take a lot of catches, score runs, but I have my personal goals and I just hope I can achieve them."
Russell also talked about how CPL means as much to West Indian cricket as IPL does to the whole world. [CPL] is very important. I think just like how passionate the guys in India are, just coming from IPL, and seeing how passionate these guys are about getting to the top four, winning the cup and looking forward to every practice session and everything. It means a lot to the local guys and I think that's what it's supposed to mean to us as well, because once you're in your home town I think that's where you want to be and it's just going to make you express yourself a lot more."
The two-time champions, Jamaica Tallawahs will be really looking forward to the tournament as they have some huge cricketers in the form of Shahid Afridi, David Miller, Ross Taylor, Samuel Badree. "We have a very good, balanced team. We have a team that is not just about the names, it's all about what they can do as well and how quickly they can change the game," Russell noted. "I truly believe in all- rounders in T20 cricket and I think that's what we have. I think we have guys that can bat and bowl and once you have eight guys in a team that can do that, I think you have a good team on paper."
Andre Russel is also interested on how he can lead Afridi in the tournament with whom he has spent a lot of time in the Pakistan Super League. He added "It's going to be interesting, I've played against Shahid before, he's a good guy. Even in Dubai after we played, we go out on a boat together, just enjoy each other's company," Russel revealed. "To be around a guy like Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Ahmed Shehzad and all these guys, it just show a different type of how they live, and how simple they are apart from the game. But, it's good to have [Afridi] in the CPL this year and not just playing against him, playing with him as well, because I hope I can learn a few things and take it along with me."
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)
