West Indies all-rounder Keemo Paul has joined the Hobart Hurricanes squad for the 2020-21 Big Bash League in Australia.
Paul was with the Delhi Capitals for the 2020 Indian Premier League, but did not play a match. The 22-year-old represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League earlier this year.
“I am really excited to be joining Hobart for the upcoming BBL, and I am very grateful for the opportunity,” he said.
“I have always been a big BBL fan and an avid watcher of the tournament, and I cannot wait to join up with the Hurricanes group.
“I have spoken to Delhi head coach Ricky Ponting here at the IPL about Hobart and Tasmania, and he has spoken really positively about the team and the competition.
“I also caught up with Hobart Hurricanes head coach Adam Griffith after our IPL game recently, and it was great to hear more about the very exciting squad this year.”
Paul has been capped three times at Test level. He has also collected 19 ODIs and 18 T20Is since 2018's international debut. The Montreal Tigers in the Global T20 Canada and Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League are also among the franchises he has represented.
“Keemo is another exciting young player in the early stages of his international career. A bowling allrounder with very good skills, Keemo uses different types of slower balls and loves bowling at the death,” added Griffith.
“He's also a hard-hitting batsman that can clear the fence, adding more power to our lower-middle order to finish off an innings.”
Khan Goes to Stars
Meanwhile, Afghanistan spinner Zahir Khan has left the Brisbane Heat for the Melbourne Stars. Khan will play alongside Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa and captain Glenn Maxwell at the Stars.
“We're looking forward to having Zahir on board for this season. His left-arm wrist-spin will give us a variety of options. Together with Adam, Tom O'Connell, Clint Hinchliffe and the support of our skipper Maxwell, we're pleased with the group of spinners we'll have available over the course of the season,” said Stars head coach David Hussey.
