Former India U-19 wicketkeeper-batsman Smit Patel has been signed by Barbados Tridents for Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2021. Smit had started his domestic career with Gujarat before moving to Tripura and Baroda. The 28-year-old was also part of the 2020/21 season, where he represented Baroda. The star performer of the 2012 U-19 World Cup final win over Australia, Smit had scored 62* off 84 in the chase to the target of 226. He stitched a match-winning partnership of 130 runs for the 5th wicket with skipper Unmukt Chand (111* off 130).
Smit's decision to play CPL has all but confirmed that he has retired from Indian cricket. As per the BCCI's rules, an Indian player cannot take part in an overseas league until he retires from domestic cricket and IPL. The rule saw the board disallowing Pravin Tambe to play IPL 2020 as he had played a T10 league. Tambe would become the first Indian player to feature in CPL after being picked up by Trinbago Knight Riders. The right-handed batsman never played IPL but got a chance to represent Board President's XI against the visiting West Indies team in a practice match in 2018. Smit will be playing alongside Chris Morris, Jason Holder, Thisara Perera, Mohammad Amir, Shai Hope and others. CPL this year will be played between August 28 and September 19 with all the matches to be played in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
