Managing Directors Manish Patel & Ron Parikh pick Shakib Al Hasan, Kumar Sangakkara and local Jamaican-Rovman Powell for Jamaica Tallawahs Cricket Team

The Jamaica Tallawahs recently bolstered their team and increased their odds of getting closer to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) championship by acquiring all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan,the legendary Sri Lankan, Kumar Sangakkara and a surprise finding in the local Jamaican, Rovman Powell.

The team, owned by the Chalak Mitra Group of Companies based in Dallas, Texas, used the CPL draft to add to a team that already included famed cricketers Chris Gayle and Kumar Sangakkara.

Sangakkara, a Sri Lanka native, returns to the team for which he had previously played. With him, comes a long list of records and achievements. Sangakkar was the number one ranked batsman by cricket’s international governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) for most of the past decade. He’s scored the second most runs in international wicket with over 28,000. Sangakkara is also the fastest batsman to reach the 8,000, 9,000, 11,000, and 12,000 in runs scored. The captain of the Sri Lanka national team won the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2012, along with the One Day International Cricketer of the Year in 2011 and 2013. Sangakkara was also named the Wisden Leading Cricketer twice, in 2011 and 2015, by the prestigious Wisden’s Cricketer Almanack.

In the first year of the competition, Sangakkara played for the Tallawahs when they lifted the inaugural crown by beating the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Port-of-Spain final.

“I am extremely excited to be part of the Jamaica Tallawahs again this year, having enjoyed being part of the squad who went on to win the inaugural trophy back in 2013,” Sangakkara added. “The CPL is a competition that is growing year on year and the quality is extremely high.

Al Hasan, the current number one all-rounder as rated by the ICC, was drafted in the third round of the CPL draft for $110,000. The Bangladesh native has competed in over 250 matches and scored more than 8,000 runs. This also includes nine centuries, which happens when a batsman scores in excess of 100 runs in a single inning during a test match. He also recently obtained his 200th wicket, which put him in an elite club of cricketers that have scored 4,000 runs and 200 wickets in their career. Al Hasan became only the seventh cricketer to join that club.

The former Bangladesh national team captain is only the third player in the history of international cricket to score a century and take 10 wickets in a single test match.

“With the addition of Shakib, now we not only have an all-rounder who is in his prime, but also, a great leader who is passionate and dedicated about winning. His winning attitude is definitely going to assist us both on and off the field,” said Manish Patel.

Jamaican Rovman Powell was drafted by the Tallawahs in the seventh round of the draft for $40,000. Powell is a rookie to the Twenty20 style of cricket, which is a faster paced game with time-limited innings. His previous playing experience was for the Combined Colleges and Campuses side, a First Class cricket team. Powell distinguished himself by scoring a pair of half centuries, innings during which the batsman scores more than 50 runs, against Combined Colleges and Campuses’ last two opponents in the 2015-2016 Regional Super50.

“Powell is a very aggressive, strong and hungry player that is waiting to show and prove his talents to the world. He reminds us of a youner Andre Russell and can be very destructive in key situations. We’re looking forward to seeing him entertain our fans in Sabina Park this year,” said Ron Parikh.

These players join Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and rest of the Jamaica Tallawahs, as they look to win another CPL title, which they last won during the inaugural 2013 season.

Manish Patel and Ron Parikh, managing directors with Chalak Mitra Group of Companies, have high hopes for their team ahead of the season that will commence at the end of June and will end beginning of August.“The true testament is that our number one asset are our players, and just the commitment from the players both locally and internationally…debutants to superstars, all these athletes signing with the Tallawahs prove that CPL is getting bigger, better and extremely competitive every year. I feel extremely confident going into this year, that we’re closer to our goal of winning the championship,” said Manish Patel.

North American fans of cricket will potentially have an opportunity to see CPL games and the Jamaica Tallawahs play on U.S. soil as they take part in six games played at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Fla from July 28-31.

To learn more about the Jamaica Tallawahs, please visit the brand’s website at: http://www.tallawahs.com

About Chalak Mitra Group of Companies:

Chalak Mitra Group of Companies is a private equity firm aiming to become a global, well-diversified billion-dollar company. Focused on an investor-first mindset, teamwork, passion, perseverance, innovation, integrity, discipline and a multi- strategy investment approach, the Chalak Mitra Group of Companies’ mission is to strategically diversify and enhance company growth by providing capital and though a superior management team.

To learn more about the Chalak Mitra Group of Companies please visit: http://www.chalakmitragroup.org

Contact Information

Manish Patel, Ron Parikh

Managing Director

Chalak Mitra Group of Companies

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