‘A force to be reckoned with’ - Powell backs Tallawahs to challenge for CPL title

All-rounder Rovman Powell is convinced that the Jamaica Tallawahs will be a force to be reckoned with in next month's Caribbean Premier League competition. The tournament will be held in Trinidad from August 18 to September 10.

The Tallawahs are coming off a terrible campaign in the 2019 season after winning just two matches while finishing at the bottom of the six-team standings.

Powell, who is expected to be announced as the captain of the Tallawahs team in the coming days, told STAR Sports that they have assembled a balanced team that will challenge for the title this year.

"To be honest, I think our chances are as good as any," said Powell. "I think when you look at it, we have a balanced team where we have batters and bowlers, and if the pitch in Trinidad does spin, we have quality spinners in our line-up."

"We have quality players because we still have the core of our team that have done well for Tallawahs over the years, and so I don't see why we should not do well," Powell said.

Exciting all-rounder

The Tallawahs have brought in exciting all-rounder Carlos Bratewaite, who was released by the St Kitts Nevis and Nevis Patriots, along with Pakistani batsman Asif Ali.

Along with Powell, the Jamaican franchise has also retained Glenn Phillips, Andre Russell, Chadwick Walton, and Oshane Thomas. The other members of the squad are Nkrumah Bonner, Andre McCarthy, Fidel Edwards, Veerasammy Permaul, Ryan Persaud, Nicholas Kirton, and Preston McSween.

"I am pretty pleased with the squad because when you are looking at a team, you have to look at what were your options in the draft, and our options in the draft were the players that we got, and that in itself was a good thing for us," he said.

"We have been doing this long enough to know how to cope with pressure and to handle ourselves when we do face the pressure, and so it is just for us now to gel as a team, and I think that is more important than anything else," he Powell said.

Powell, 26, has scored 1,110 run in 65 T20 matches at an average of 25.22.

"Personally, I am looking to put my best foot forward because I am not one that is going to sit down here and tell you that I am going to score a thousand runs, but what you can expect from me is that I am going to represent the Tallawahs with pride, dignity, and most of all, honour," said Powell.