BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC-South African batsman Faf Du Plessis says he is anxious to make his debut when the fourth edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bowls off later this year.
Du Plessis was selected to play for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, one of six franchises involved in the T20 tournament.
He is appearing for the first time this year alongside a number of new international signs-ups such as country man, AB de Villiers and high profile South African Hashim Amla.
“I’m looking forward to be part of a tournament that’s like no other around the world,” said Du Plessis.
“The West Indian culture is all about having fun and I can’t wait to be a part of it”.
De Plessis, 31, a right handed batsman who bowls leg break, will play alongside Australian Brad Hodge, Sri Lankan Thisara Perera and Lendl Simmons, who was snapped up by the Patriots during last week’s draft in Bridgetown.
“It’s great to see that the tournament is growing and getting big international players playing in it,” said Du Plessis, who has played 26 T20 Internationals scoring 825 runs with a highest score of 119.
“From what I’ve seen on TV it’s just dancing and music all the time. It really looks like a lot of fun. Strangely, in my five-year international career to date, we haven’t been to the West Indies once”.
Du Plessis is expected to be a member of the South Africa team to visit the Caribbean before the CPL for a triangular tournament involving West Indies and Australia.
“We will be going there in July just before the CPL starts for a triangular series involving the West Indies and Australia, so I’m looking forward to that and getting some experience of the conditions,” he said.
“My hopes for the tournament would be for the Patriots to do really well and for the guys just to enjoy creating something special as a team. And to hopefully hit some sixes in the process!”
