Trinidad and Tobago - South Africa batsman, Hashim Amla, has signed on for a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) stint with the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), and is grateful for the time spent in the West Indies ahead of the tournament.
Amla featured for a misfiring Proteas unit in a triangular series against Australia, and the West Indies, and was one of the few South Africans to acquit themselves well in a disappointing series.
Speaking at the launch of the new TKR jersey in Trinidad, Amla had this to say: “It’s the first time that I’ve been involved in this competition and just from all the chat with the Trinidad people, everybody’s really confident and hoping that it’s a great start for us.
"Certainly, being champions last year, we’ll be trying to defend that. It’s been a lovely few days since I’ve been with the boys."
The former South African skipper will face off against compatriots David Miller, Morne Morkel and Eddie Leie who have signed on for the St. Lucia Zouks: “Those two guys (Morkel and Miller) are two guys I’ve spent a lot of time with in the South African team.
"It would be lovely to play against them. I have played a couple of times in the domestic teams back home, and though it will be as much fun as possible, each one of us will want to come out on top, certainly from a team perspective.
“But, regardless, it’s going to be a great atmosphere. Everybody’s been talking about how Trinidad is one of the best atmospheric grounds in the whole of the CPL, so it’s something that I’m really looking forward to experiencing. And I’m sure that Morne and Davy will enjoy it just as much.”
Amla is looking forward to playing under former Proteas allrounder and coach of the TKR, Jacques Kallis, as well as the opportunity to play alongside the likes of Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Pakistan’s Umar Akmal, commenting:
“Sport is a wonderful means and medium to make many friends around the world and, as I said, with the guys I’ve played against we have had many battles on the field, to now share a changing room with them and share the good times, hopefully, is something that I’m really looking forward to.”