Pakistan’s young fast bowler Hunain Shah made an impressive start to his Caribbean Premier League (CPL) career, taking 2-38 in four overs for Jamaica Kingsmen despite suffering a dramatic last-ball defeat against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.
The 22-year-old played a key role in keeping the Falcons under pressure during their chase of 168, but Jamaica were denied victory when the visitors completed the required runs from the final delivery.
Hunain was handed the responsibility of bowling during a tense run chase and responded with two important wickets.
His four-over spell of 2-38 helped the Kingsmen repeatedly put pressure on the Falcons, who eventually needed two runs from the final ball to win the opening match of CPL 2026 at Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent.
The result was a narrow two-wicket victory for Antigua and Barbuda, with the Falcons finishing on 168-8 from 20 overs after Jamaica had posted 167-7.
Dramatic finish denies Jamaica victory
With two runs required from the final delivery, Shamar Springer faced Hunain Shah with Jamaica desperately seeking to force the game into another twist.
Hunain delivered a full ball that Springer struck towards long-on. A fumble by Rovman Powell allowed the batters to complete the second run, sealing a dramatic victory for the Falcons.
The defeat denied Jamaica Kingsmen a winning start on their return to the CPL, but Hunain’s performance provided plenty of encouragement on an important night for the young Pakistan pacer.
Kingsmen post competitive total
Jamaica Kingsmen had earlier been asked to bat first and posted 167-7, setting the Falcons a challenging target of 168.
The chase remained tightly contested throughout, with Hunain and the Kingsmen bowling attack repeatedly applying pressure before Antigua and Barbuda finally escaped on the final delivery.
The Jamaica-based franchise is returning to the CPL in 2026, with the new Kingsmen franchise forming part of the tournament’s expanded setup.
Another opportunity after PSL success
For Hunain, the match represented an important opportunity to showcase his ability on an international franchise stage.
The young fast bowler had already produced several impressive moments during the 2026 Pakistan Super League, including a crucial two-wicket spell for Hyderabad Kingsmen in the second Eliminator, where he also held his nerve during a tense final over.
His CPL debut now gives him another platform to develop his game against experienced international and Caribbean players.
With the CPL still in its early stages, Hunain will now look to turn his promising individual performance into match-winning contributions for Jamaica Kingsmen.
Despite the disappointing final-ball defeat, his two-wicket debut has given the Pakistan quick a strong foundation as he continues his campaign in the Caribbean.
