Trinbago Knight Riders Keep Usman Tariq as CPL 2026 Squads Take Shape
Champions Trinbago Knight Riders retain spinner Usman Tariq and their core group for CPL 2026, while rivals add Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nabi.
By SportCricket Desk · 26 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
Trinbago Knight Riders are sticking with the group that won the 2025 Caribbean Premier League, and Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq is among the key players kept for CPL 2026. Tariq had a breakthrough season last year, finishing as the franchise’s leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets in 10 matches, and is again expected to lead the spin attack.
Knight Riders and Amazon Warriors
The champions have also kept overseas players Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Matthew Breetzke and USA all-rounder Amshi de Silva. Dwayne Bravo stays as head coach for a second straight season, and Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Akeal Hosein remain central as the team chase back-to-back titles.
Last year’s runners-up, Guyana Amazon Warriors, have kept veteran leg-spinner Imran Tahir and added Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Glenn Phillips of New Zealand is set to return to the CPL after six years, subject to recovering from a side injury suffered in New Zealand’s Test against England at The Oval. Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has also been retained.
Pakistan players across the league
Several Pakistan cricketers have signed for the 2026 season. Fast bowler Naseem Shah joins St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, who have also added Wanindu Hasaranga, Waqar Salamkheil and all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary to their overseas group.
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons have signed all-rounder Shadab Khan and left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim. Both are expected to play the first seven matches before leaving for commitments in the European T20 Premier League. The Falcons will have England’s Moeen Ali and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera for the whole tournament.
