Barbados Royals have suffered a significant blow on the eve of their WCPL title defence, with a shoulder injury ruling out their captain Hayley Matthews for the entire season.

Allrounder Chinelle Henry will lead Royals in Matthews' absence.

Matthews is the WCPL's leading run-getter (424 at a strike rate of 113.06) and wicket-taker (23 with an economy rate of 5.79), and a key player in Royals' title-winning campaigns of 2023 and 2024. She was Player of the Match in the 2023 final against Guyana Amazon Warriors, scoring a 59-ball 82 and taking two wickets, and Player of the Series in the 2024 season.

Royals announced the news of Matthews' injury via X, formerly Twitter. They have not announced a replacement yet.

Royals are set to play their first game of WCPL 2025 against Amazon

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