Explosive batsmen Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Brandon King are among 11 players retained by the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2021 season of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) that is set to bowl off in St. Kitts on August 28.

In addition to international imports Imran Tahir of South Africa, who has taken 47 wickets for the Amazon Warriors, and Afghanistan’s Naveen Ul Haq, the Guyana-based franchise has also retained the services of local boys Romario Shepherd, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair and Ashmead Nedd.

Jamaican Odean Smith also returns to the squad that made it to the semi-finals in the 2020 edition of the tournament.

Pooran scored the only century in last year’s tournament while Sinclair and Nedd both impressed during their CPL debut seasons.

The Amazon Warriors still have six spots left to fill in their squad and these will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The management of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise are very pleased to retain the core group of players which comprised our squad over the last two years,” the team’s management said in a statement.

“The franchise is very appreciative of the retained players for their loyalty and commitment to the Guyana Amazon Warriors. It is the hope of the Franchise that with the majority of players being together over the last two tournaments, the team unity, camaraderie and support for one another in working towards a common goal and purpose will bring the desired result of winning the tournament this year.”

The Amazon Warriors have never won the Hero CPL but have runners up in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019. They were semi-finalists in 2015, 2017 and 2020.