St Lucia Kings head coach Andy Flower is hopeful that Faf du Plessis is set to return in the franchise’s CPL opener on August 27 against the Jamaica Tallawahs. He was also forced to miss a portion of the PSL.
Andy Flower’s Personal Fitness Challenges
“He’s had his own personal fitness challenges lately,” Flower said during a virtual media interaction. “But he is on a back-to-play schedule which should see him ready for our first match. We hope and pray that he is clearly fit for his good, ” But that’s what we’re planning.”
Du Plessis’s head collided with his Quetta Gladiators teammate Mohamed Hasnain’s knee during a match against professional Zalmi in the PSL in Abu Dhabi in June.
The injury later ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament and he soon returned to S A and then traveled to Croatia to quarantine beyond the Hundred.
Du Plessis will now guide St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean
Du Plessis was originally supposed to captain the Northern Superchargers before Ben Stokes and David Willey took over. Plessis will now guide St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean and then rejoin Chennai Super Kings in the second leg of the IPL.
Which will resume four days after the CPL ends on 15 September. He was in particularly strong form in the first leg. IPL scored 320 runs in seven innings at an average of 64 and a strike rate of 145.45.
Also read: India can play the verbal game, we’ll play our way – Joe Root
Seam-bowling all-rounder K.Paul, who moved from Guyana Amazon Warriors, and left-arm seamer Obed are also fitness concerns for the Kings. Paul was not in the right for selection for West Indies after suffering a groin injury last year.
He hasn’t played any rival cricket since the BBL last December. As for McCoy, he was dropped from the West Indies squad for the last two T20Is against Australia in July. Flower also expected the pair to be present for the Kings’ first game on Friday.
Keemo Paul and Obed will be fit for the first match
“I haven’t met him [Paul] yet and haven’t got a simple update about his fitness yet, but he’s going to take part in the tournament and there’s no doubt about that,” Flower said. “And I hope he plays some match-turning performances as well. Again, I’m yet to catch up with Obed and our physio will come with the [Test] team from the second Test this evening, Keemo Paul and Obed fit for the first match Will be.”
King’s new recruit Samit Patel, however, will not be present for the start of the CPL. The England and Trent Rockets all-rounder will join him only after playing in the Vitality Blast knockouts for Nottinghamshire.
