Five Saint Lucians have been selected for the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, including newcomer Keon Gaston and returnee McKenny Clarke, both fast bowlers. Veteran batter Johnson Charles returns to defending champions Saint Lucia Kings, along with Shadrack Descarte and young Ackeem Auguste, following Wednesday’s player draft. Once again, there is no room for Kimani Melius.
Clarke, 22, is set to revive his T20 career with the Trinbago Knight Riders after last featuring for the Kings in 2023, where he conceded 64 runs in five overs across three matches.
Despite being signed by MI Emirates in the International League T20, he has yet to make an appearance in three seasons. Earlier this year, however, he impressed in the Cricket West Indies Breakout League, claiming nine wickets in six matches, including a crucial 3-34 in the final, to help the Trinidad & Tobago Legion lift the trophy.
Gaston played for the Windward Islands Infernos in the Breakout League. Just turned 22, the Mon Repos pacer took five wickets in that competition. In two matches for the Windward Islands in the 2025 West Indies Championship, the well-built quick took eight wickets, including a sterling 7-78 on his first-class debut against Barbados. He is in line to make his CPL debut.
Former Kings captain Faf du Plessis announced his departure from the Kings squad on Tuesday, leaving a void in the batting lineup. That will also put more pressure on Charles, who is perennially one of the league’s top run-scorers. Last year, the man from Millet scored 452 runs, third overall in the standings. But du Plessis contributed 405, the fourth-most overall in a winning campaign for the Kings. At 36, Charles continues to plug away for the West Indies nearly 14 years on from his international debut, whilst attracting the attention of franchises worldwide.
Descarte, an all-rounder, had a lean time with the bat in last year’s CPL. He made just 27 runs from five matches. But the 27-year-old from Mon Repos did take three wickets from 72 balls.
Auguste, meanwhile, hit 141 runs in nine innings, with an unbeaten 35 his top score. The former West Indies Under-19 captain ended the series with a respectable average of 20.14 shortly after turning 21.
The 13th season of the CPL will run from August 14 to September 21. Teams will be required to play at least one “’breakout” player in each match.
