The highly anticipated Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 is set to kick off within a few hours. This 20-over tournament combines several local and overseas talented players to deliver electrifying performances on a grand stage.
Also, the forthcoming 13th edition promises to entertain fans right from the season opener, where St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will face off against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons on August 14 (according to IST, it is August 15) at Warner Park.
It’s time for the Falcons to overcome their lackluster performance in the previous season, having concluded fifth in the points table. Whereas in CPL 2025, the squad boasts a new set of overseas talents like Allah Ghazanfar, Bevon Jacobs, and Naveen-ul-Haq.
In terms of the domestic talents, the experienced all-rounders like Odean Smith, Jayden Seals, and Rakheem Cornwall join the franchise.
So, the revamped squad of the Antigua and Barbuda region seems to be all set to deliver a solid performance and gain an entry into the playoffs with the hopes of winning their maiden championship title.
However, the captain of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons is yet to be revealed officially. Let’s take a look at those five noteworthy players who can play a key role for the Falcons in CPL 2025.
1. Jayden Seales:
The Windies pacer Jayden Seals has been a long-time player for Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) since 2020, where he claimed 18 wickets in 23 CPL innings.
His maiden stint with Antigua and Barbuda Falcons becomes much more exciting following his performance in the recently concluded ODI match against Pakistan. He not only recorded his best ODI bowling figures of 6/18 in 7.2 overs, but also single-handedly helped West Indies win the 3-match ODI series by 2-1.
Jayden could turn out to be one of the match winners for the Falcons, given his ability to deliver an effective performance with the new ball.
2. Jewel Andrew:
In his T20I debut match against Pakistan, Jewel Andrew scored 35 runs from 33 balls (including 1 four and 3 sixes). The 19-year-old, having played his last CPL season for the Falcons in 2024, scored 128 runs in 7 matches, which includes his only half-century at an average of 25.60 and a strike rate of 111.30.
However, Jewel has set his targets high, and the 2025 season will be his valuable opportunity to experience a breakout season and solidify his spot as a reliable wicketkeeper-batter.
Apart from being a young, dynamic batter, his wicketkeeping skills will be essential to increase his chances of making a successful contribution in the CPL.
3. Shakib Al Hasan:
Former Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has represented three different franchises in CPL, namely Barbados Royals, Jamaica Tallawahs, and Guyana Amazon Warriors. After missing out on two seasons of CPL in 2023 and 2024, Shakib will be back in action playing for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons this CPL 2025.
The 38-year-old’s contribution to Bangladesh in T20 internationals (T20Is) as a left-handed batter and orthodox spinner has been nothing short of spectacular.
In 129 T20Is, Shakib compiled 2,551 runs at an average of 23.19 and a strike rate of 121.18, including 13 fifties. Also, he claimed 149 wickets, which includes his best bowling figures of 5/20 at an average of 20.91 and an economy rate of 6.80.
Coming to his CPL stats, the seasoned Bangladeshi star scored 448 runs and bagged 37 wickets in 36 matches.
His experience promises to add stability to the Falcons’ middle order as well as strengthen the spin bowling attack this season.
4. Naveen Ul Haq:
Afghanistan’s medium pacer Naveen Ul Haq’s rise in T20Is has been remarkable. He took 67 wickets in 48 innings at an average of 18.73 and an economy of 7.78. Also, the 25-year-old’s proven abilities as a death over specialist promise him to be an integral part of Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ pace bowling line-up.
Since his CPL debut in 2020, Naveen has played for two different teams, namely Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals. He grabbed 30 wickets in 29 innings, averaging at 26.76 and an economy of 8.04.
5. Bevon Jacobs:
New Zealand’s middle-order batter Bevon Jacobs could prove to be an X-factor for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ batting line-up.
In his T20I debut match against South Africa in the previous month, the right-handed batter scored a fabulous 44-run knock out of 30 balls (including 1 four and 3 sixes) at a strike rate of 146.66.
The 19-year-old has so far represented the MI Emirates in the International League T20 (ILT20) and will be excited to mark his debut in another high-profile franchise T20 league like the CPL.
Coming to his T20 stats, Bevon scored 467 runs in 19 innings, averaging at 33.35 and a strike rate of 147.31, which includes two 50+ scores with his best score of 90*.
Jacobs is yet another young overseas talent in the Falcons who would be keen to find new opportunities and make the best use of them by stepping forward to make a solid impact.