By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed a stellar line-up of international stars, but the Guyana Amazon Warriors will most likely give preference to the region-based players, according a top official within the Warriors management. The CPL player draft takes place on February 11 in Barbados where 289 players – 157 from West Indies and 132 from overseas – have been registered for the draft.

“We are still in discussion … we want the best players, but obviously we want to give preference to the players in the region,” the official said.
Further this publication was reliably informed that star batsman Lendl Simmons and skipper Denesh Ramdin are unlikely to be a part of the Warriors make-up.
Simmons, who has been the team’s highest run-scorer over the past three seasons, and Ramdin are locked in fee negotiations with the local franchise, but Chronicle Sport was reliably informed that no tenable resolution has been reached by the parties.
This publication also understands that New Zealand star batsman Martin Guptill, who played for the Warriors during the first edition, is likely to return to the Warriors setup after representing the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots last season.
Meanwhile, former West Indies vice-captain Roger Harper is expected to return as head coach, replacing former West Indies captain Carl Hooper, who was appointed head coach of the 2015 edition.
Harper was the head coach for the Warriors for the first two seasons.
The 289 players does not include the six players – Faf du Plessis, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, Shane Watson, and one other name set to be revealed ahead of the draft – who will take one ‘marquee’ spot in each of the six CPL teams.
Sixteen of the 157 West Indies players to register have already been retained ahead of the draft, leaving 141 eligible for selection on draft day. This is 25 more than the 116 who vied for spots at last year’s draft and represents a 22% increase.
Coupled with an 18% increase in international player registration, this is further illustration of the CPL’s growing stature as one of the foremost tournaments in T20 cricket.
Pakistan will be the most represented overseas nationality at the CPL draft, with 37 players. There will be 34 South African, 23 Australians, and 20 Sri Lankans.
New Zealand will be represented by 11 players and Bangladesh by seven. Outside the Test-playing countries, the draft will also include players from Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and USA.
Meanwhile, the League will make a number of changes to its players’ draft format ahead of the new season.
The number of players that the franchises can retain before the player draft has been held has been reduced from four to three, while squad sizes increased from 16 to 17 for the new season. The new rules also allow the six franchise teams to sign one ‘marquee’ player as a free agent before the draft process begins.
Further changes to the rules include a reduction in the number of players who must live in the franchise territory from four to two, while the limit on overseas players has increased from four to five.
2015 also saw the introduction of ICC Americas players, with two being selected for the Tridents and Patriots squads.
In 2016, at least six ICC Americas players will be guaranteed a contract.
Overall, the salary cap for each team has increased to US$780 000 from US$600 000.