Two fresh faces to the Jamaica Tallawahs team are eyeing a successful runs in this season’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 tournament.

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder, and Alex Ross, the middle-order batsman from Australia, were present at Tuesday’s breakfast hosted by team sponsor Foska Oats at Melbourne Cricket Club.

The 29-year-old Al Hasan, a skilful left-arm finger spinner and attacking left-hand batsman, has played in various T20 leagues around the globe and also represented Barbados Tridents previously in the CPL.

“It’s a nice feeling being here. I know most of the guys here, so I feel welcomed and all my teammates are very friendly. I’m looking forward to this season,” Al Hasan told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

The Tallawahs, who won the inaugural edition of the CPL in 2013, departed the island yesterday for St Kitts and Nevis where they will open their account against hosts Patriots at Warner Park in Basseterre.

“The fans have their expectations and I have my personal expectation as well, and I’ll focus on playing my game and enjoying my time here. I just want to do as much as I can for the team.

“I had a good time with the Tridents and it’s only my second day here, but I’m already enjoying it and hopefully we’ll have a very good campaign,” the slow bowler added.

The Tallawahs bowling department will depend a lot on the experienced Al Hasan, especially since most of the batting surfaces in the Caribbean tend to favour spin. Still, the Bangladesh star player said accuracy will be key.

“The pitches might help the spinners, but obviously I need to bowl well. In the T20 format you can’t [afford to] bowl a single bad ball. I have to be focused to get the balls in very good areas,” said Al Hasan.

Ross, 24, played for Adelaide Strikers in last season’s Australian Big Bash League, and top-scored with 47 as they lost to Sydney Thunder at the semi-final stage.

He is eagerly anticipating his first outing in the CPL tournament.

“I’ll try to bring stability to the middle order and try to bat around the guys like [Christopher] Gayle and [Andre] Russell and hopefully bat through to the end.

“I’ve been here a week now and it’s been great trying to acclimatise to the wickets. The wickets are definitely different to those back home, but it’s something I’ve taken on as a challenge. It’s about changing your game fractionally to make up for the difference,” said the Australian.

In previous seasons of the CPL, some foreign batsmen have struggled to score quickly against the slower bowlers on spinner-friendly wickets. But Ross said playing spin is one of his attributes.

“I really enjoy playing spin, so I was excited about coming over here. It’s all about playing your role, so if I can do that, hopefully our team can push on to the final and win that final. That’s the goal for me.”

Based on the quality of the squad, some see the Tallawahs as tournament favourites. Ross conceded that, on paper, the team boasts one of the most talented line-ups.

“We have superstars and we have our two local big boys in Gayle and Russell, and our internationals are all class. And we have some quality young players like [batsman] Rovman Powell and he has really, really impressed me so far,” he said.

The Tallawahs also have South African fast-bowling ace Dale Steyn, former Sri Lanka batting great Kumar Sangakkara, and talented local players Andre McCarthy and Nkrumah Bonner.

— Sanjay Myers