Heinrich Klaasen to miss CPL 2024 , replacement named

South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen will not be participating in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) due to a family emergency. This unexpected absence is a significant blow to the St Lucia Kings, who had signed Klaasen in June ahead of the CPL draft. Known for his explosive batting, particularly against spin, Klaasen’s absence leaves a gap in the Kings' lineup as the tournament begins on Thursday.

St Lucia Kings, who finished third in the points table last season and made it to the Eliminator, have quickly moved to fill the void by signing New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert. Seifert is no stranger to the CPL, having previously played for Trinbago Knight Riders, where he won the title in 2020. His experience and ability to handle pressure will be vital for the Kings as they look to build on their previous success.

Klaasen had a brief stint with the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2022, scoring 118 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 137. However, he has significantly improved as a limited-overs player since then. Over the last two years, he has played 82 T20 matches for club and country, amassing 2293 runs at a striking rate of 169, including two centuries and 16 fifties.

In addition to Klaasen's absence, there have been other personnel changes across CPL teams. The Trinbago Knight Riders have brought in USA's Andries Gous as a temporary replacement for Australia's Tim David, who will join the team after their first four matches. Gous, who was the seventh-highest scorer at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, is expected to add depth to the Knight Riders’ batting lineup.

The Barbados Royals are also dealing with player availability issues, as David Miller and Keshav Maharaj will miss the first two matches to attend the Cricket South Africa awards function on September 5. To cover for them, the Royals have signed Sri Lankan allrounder Dunith Wellalage, who recently impressed in an ODI series against India, and Shamarh Brooks.

Additionally, Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza has pulled out of the CPL due to an injury. Raza announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he would miss the entire tournament. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Raza’s team, have yet to name a replacement.