Jermaine Blackwood handed CPL deal as Jamaican pair withdrawn due to Covid-19 exposure

Despite both players testing negative in an initial test for coronavirus, the pair practised in a net session with another Jamaican cricketer who has tested positive for the virus

West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood and bowling allrounder Ramaal Lewis have been called up to Jamaica Tallawahs’ squad for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League campaign after two players were withdrawn.

Jamaican pair Andre McCarthy and Jeavor Royal will no longer take part in this year’s tournament after both came into contact with another Jamaican cricketer, who has contracted Covid-19.

Despite both players testing negative in an initial test for coronavirus, the protocols of this year’s competition state that players must return two negative tests before being allowed to travel to Trinidad and Tobago, where the entire event is taking place.

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba will host 23 games, including the semi-finals and final, while Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain will stage the other ten fixtures.

All games will take place behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment with a series of stringent protocols in place.

Caribbean Premier League 2020 fixture list

All players and staff taking part in this year’s competition will have to fulfil a fortnight-long quarantine period once arriving in the country.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have also been forced into a significant change, with head coach Simon Helmot ruled out of the tournament after testing positive for the virus.

He was asymptomatic and has since returned a negative test but has remained at home in Australia, with Courtney Walsh and New Zealander Mark O’Donnell replacing Helmot and assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan, who also works as a scout for Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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