HH Kingsmen has a stacked side heading into this year’s Top End T20 Series. The team featuring many players involved in the Major Cricket League have talent coming various parts of the world.
All-rounder Tajinder Dhillon is one player to watch this Top End Series. The 34-year-old, born in Rajasthan, has been in fine form this year playing in the CPL, ILT20 and MLC. Dhillon scored 99 runs from three CPL matches earlier this month, playing for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. His three innings were highlighted by a 62 against Jamaica Kingsman on August 7, priming him for a big tournament in Darwin.
The HHK Academy are part of the growing Kingsmen Global Franchise Group, with US-based owner Fawad Sarwar recently establishing the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Jamaica Kingsmen in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The Kingsmen taking the field in this year’s Top End Series, will also have fast bowler Asif Mehmood in action. The 30-year-old took 4-18 last season for the Kingsmen in the PSL.
Saad Ali, who also played for the Kingsmen in the PSL last season, has two ODIs for Pakistan to his name. Born in Karachi, the top order batter could be another one to watch this Top End Series.
The Kingsmen will be striving for top honours this campaign after narrowly falling short last year. The Kingsmen finished on top of the standings with a 5-1 record before going down in the semi-final to Adelaide Strikers.
This year’s team enters with strong chemistry having played with each other for much of the last four years. Kingsmen captain Hammad Azam was involved in the Darwin tournament last season. The 35-year-old is set to lead his team again this year. Azam has played 11 ODIs for Pakistan and five T20Is. The batting all-rounder has also played 14 PSL games.
“As a franchise we are growing and obviously this tournament, it’s a really good competition for us,” Azam told ntcricket.com.au.
“New Zealand A is here, Bangladesh is here and then Nepal, and the BBL teams are here as well.
“We are really looking forward to it and to do good in it too.”
The Kingsmen side will also be boosted with New Zealand-born fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn in the team.
The 34-year-old played for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL in 2019. He has also played in the ILT20 and CPL, and has three Test matches to his name for New Zealand, two ODIs and 18 T20Is. Kuggeleijn is sure to be a major player in the Kingsmen line-up this year.
The Kingsmen begin their Study NT Top End T20 Series tournament against ACT Comets on Friday.
The tournament is already underway! See the latest results here