West Indies left-handed batter Sherfane Rutherford has agreed to represent Sudurpaschim Royals in the third edition of the Nepal Premier League, while Bangladesh batting all-rounder Shamim Hossain has been signed by Lumbini Lions for the same tournament. Both acquisitions are aimed at bolstering the batting and all-round resources of their respective franchises.
Rutherford, who is 28 years old, bowls medium pace alongside his aggressive middle-order batting. Across all T20 cricket, he has accumulated 5,090 runs from 283 matches at a career strike rate of 142.05, hitting 324 sixes along the way. At international level, he has appeared in 31 one-day internationals and 61 T20 internationals for the West Indies, gathering 873 runs in ODIs and 1,123 in T20Is, with a highest T20I score of 84.
Rutherford has featured in a wide range of major franchise competitions, including the Caribbean Premier League, Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League, Lanka Premier League, International League T20 and Major League Cricket. In the IPL, he turned out for Gujarat Titans in 2025, scoring 291 runs across 13 matches, and has also represented Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was part of squads associated with Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders during title-winning seasons, though he did not feature in those championship campaigns.
What does Rutherford's signing mean for Sudurpaschim Royals?
Sudurpaschim Royals have secured a player with extensive franchise experience and a proven record of scoring at a high tempo in the middle order. Prakash Khadka, chief executive officer of the franchise, confirmed the signing and outlined what the club expects from the West Indian. Rutherford also expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity.
"We are excited to bring an experienced and aggressive player like Sherfane Rutherford into Sudurpaschim Royals. We believe his batting ability and franchise cricket experience will strengthen the team. His presence in the NPL will also excite our supporters, and we expect him to make an important contribution to our campaign this season," Khadka said as quoted by The Kathmandu Post.
"I am very excited to join Sudurpaschim Royals. I am looking forward to playing in the NPL and showcasing my skills in front of Nepali supporters. My goal is to perform well with the team and give the fans exciting cricket," he added.
Among Rutherford's notable franchise honours, he was a member of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots squad that claimed the CPL title in 2022 and was part of Karachi Kings' title-winning PSL campaign in the 2020-21 season.
What does Hossain bring to Lumbini Lions?
Shamim Hossain offers Lumbini Lions a combination of aggressive batting in the middle order and off-spin bowling, giving the franchise additional all-round cover for the new NPL season. His T20 international debut came against Zimbabwe in 2021, and he made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in 2023.
Hossain was a member of the Bangladesh squad that lifted the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2020, underlining his pedigree from an early stage. In the 2024-25 Bangladesh Premier League, representing Chittagong Kings, he compiled 352 runs and contributed to the side reaching the final, a performance that highlighted his value as a franchise cricketer.
