Started in 2013, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) aims to promote international cricket within the region. It replaced the then Caribbean Twenty20 as one of the top cricket competitions in the Caribbean. Six teams from six Caribbean countries compete for top honours in the competition. These teams are the Jamaica Tallawahs, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Antigua Hawksbills (all of who are the top contenders) as well as Barbados Trident, St. Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Steel. Some 30 matches are expected to be played around different Caribbean islands.
The CPL has gained immense popularity worldwide but this year’s round is expected to attract more fans. Indeed, the eyes of the world will be watching carefully to see who will take this season’s top spot. In last year’s competition, most persons had Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Steel down as the favourite to win. However, the Jamaica Tallawahs won after beating Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Queens Park Oval. At the Jamaica Tallawah’s launch held at the Pegasus Hotel, Captain Chris Gayle remarked,
“I am looking forward to defending the title in this coming tournament of 2014.”
Jamaica Tallawahs’ players have been preparing well to defend their championship title this year. They credit the support of their sponsors and the Honourable Courtney Walsh who provides quality mentoring to players and coaches. Although there are high expectations of the Tallawahs’ MVPs: Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Chadwick Walton, the entire team is expected to work together if they are to regain the title.
As Walsh advises, Cricket lovers around the world prefer to watch limited-overs matches such as this. Unlike the test matches that sometimes seem so drawn out because of slower batting, limited overs matches are more fast-paced. In a limited overs game, the match winner is declared within a couple of hours; contrary to test cricket where a single game may last for days, causing people to lose interest.
This year’s competition promises to be better. According to CPL sponsorship coordinator Shelly-Ann Curran, since plans got underway for the 2014 CPL tournament, she has seen no problems arising so far. In fact, she reports that based on interest shown, the prediction is that there will be great ticket sales. She notes that young people particularly within the region are buzzing about this year’s competition, starting July 11. Entertainment packages at the matches will be just as exciting as last year with a few new entertainers who will electrify the sporting fans.
Foska Oats, the founding sponsor of the Jamaica Tallawah’s, is excited to be on board once more. They expressed their hope of seeing the team give a repeat performance of last year. Phillip Ramson, the Director of Caribbean Foods, makers of Foska Oats, recognized CPL for promoting the culture of cricket in the Caribbean. He emphasized his commitment to the team and the aim of his brand to “encourage an active lifestyle throughout the team as an effective way of furthering the success of the Jamaica Tallawah’s.” He continued, “Foska Oats is committed to furthering sports in Jamaica and we hope to take it to the entire world, eventually.”
There is hope that in the near future there will be greater collaboration between Caribbean Foods and CPL.
CPL has made it possible for many young players in the Caribbean who have not gotten the opportunity to represent their country regionally. Indeed, this might just be the chance these youngsters have been waiting for as they may even advance higher and become West Indies players.