Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Rohrer has garnered a reputation of being a Twenty20 specialist

Australia’s Ben Rohrer, Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad and South Africa’s Davy Jacobs have been announced as the replacements for Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The trio will not take part in the inaugural edition of the tournament after they failed to obtain no-objection certificates from Cricket Australia.

Rohrer will replace Smith and play for the Antigua Hawksbills, Shehzad will come in for Marsh and represent the Jamaica Tallawahs, while Jacobs will take Finch’s spot and play for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

Rohrer noted that he was extremely excited at being given the opportunity to work alongside West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards, who will coach the Hawksbills throughout the tournament.

“Losing Shaun is a shame but we have got a like-for-like replacement with Ahmed Shehzad who is perfect for the team’s balance,” Paul Nixon, the Tallawahs coach, said. “Chris (Gayle) knows him well and we believe that he will be a match-winner who can really make his mark on the world stage. He is a very gifted and classy player and we feel he is the last piece in our jigsaw.”

West Indies batting great Gordon Greenidge, who will be coaching the Red Steel, who pleased to welcome Jacobs aboard.

“Davy Jacobs is a proven performer in Twenty20 cricket,” Greenidge said. “The fact he can bat anywhere in the top order is great as it provides us with real flexibility and I like the balance of our squad.

“He will add steel to the Red Steel dressing room and bring a winning mentality and vast experience to the squad.”

The CPL gets underway on July 30 in Barbados and will conclude on August 24 in Trinidad.