Noor Ahmad Misses CPL After Afghanistan Board Action
Noor Ahmad, the St Lucia Kings’ left-arm wristspinner, will miss the remainder of the CPL 2026 season. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has withdrawn Noor Ahmad No Objection Certificate, barring him from playing in the Caribbean Premier League. Ahmad did not travel to the West Indies, forcing the franchise to look for an immediate replacement midway through the campaign.
The Kings moved fast to fill the vacancy. Tim Seifert, a New Zealand opening batter and wicketkeeper, has been signed as Noor Ahmad replacement and will go to Saint Lucia to join the team.
Noor Ahmad is unavailable following the revocation of his NOC.
Noor Ahmad has been a significant player for the Kings in recent seasons. He joined the franchise in 2020 but was unable to participate due to visa issues at the time. He returned to the Kings for the CPL 2024, appearing in 12 matches and became the tournament’s most successful bowler with 22 wickets with an economy rate of 6.19. The Kings won the competition that year.
Tim Seifert arrives as a replacement.
Seifert brings impressive recent form to the franchise. He was the second-highest run-getter in England’s men’s Hundred in 2026, with 394 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 168.37.
Seifert was selected Player of the Match in the Hundred 2026 final after leading Manchester Super Giants to win with 72 runs from 38 balls.
Seifert has previous experience with the Caribbean Premier League. He played with Trinbago Knight Riders from 2020 to 2022 before joining the St Lucia Kings for the final two seasons.
Seifert was the Kings’ best run-scorer in CPL 2025, scoring 396 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 169.23. He scored an undefeated 72 from 53 balls in a league-stage encounter against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, but the Kings did not advance to the final that year.
St Lucia Kings are presently fourth in the CPL 2026 standings, having won two of their five matches. As the organization strives for a stronger tournament finish, Seifert will be counted on to provide batting depth and experience.
