Injured Rampaul out of CPL T20

Kingston (Jamaica), July 30 (IANS/CMC) Jamaican pace bowler Andrew Richardson has been called up to replace injured seamer Ravi Rampaul in the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise for the Caribbean Premier T20 League which starts on Tuesday.

Rampaul has been ruled out of the CPL after sustaining an injury during the recently concluded Tri-Nation series between the West Indies, India and Sri Lanka.

The University of Technology Jamaica student says he is unfazed by the fact that he does not have a lot of T20 experience, having played only one T20 game against Ireland three years ago.

"I'm not worried about that because over the years I have been playing consistent first class cricket both in the longer four-day version and I've had some very good one-day seasons," said Richardson.

"I've also played a lot of non-first class Twenty20 cricket in Jamaica and for Jamaica so I know my ability and I will contribute to the Jamaica Tallawahs when the time comes for me to play."

Richardson has done well for Jamaica in regional tournaments since making his first class debut in 2002, and is on the cusp of 200 first class wickets.

The 31-year-old says he is excited at the prospects of playing in the CPL, which bowls off on Tuesday at Kensington Oval and wraps up in Trinidad and Tobago on August 24.

"I'm happy to be in the Jamaica Tallawahs team," said the former West Indies youth and West Indies B player, who toured England four years ago with the Windies senior team.

--IANS/CMC

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