Bridgetown.
The dates for the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) were among a number of exciting plans announced by founder and Chairman of the CPL Ajmal Khan at a media launch held at the Sandy Lane Country Club last night.
The month long tournament will begin on Monday 26th of Juldy and end on Monday 26th of August, with 32 matches that will be seen by television audiences all around the world.
According to Khan, the CPL will be made up of six teams based in six countries, the potential franchise are Barbados,Guyana, St Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Antigua. He also expounded on the economic benefits the CPL will bring to the region.
"The CLP will showchase the beauty and talent of the Caribbean to the world.The best cricketers that the West Indies has to offer playing alongside their international counterparts, coupled with celebrity appeal from Hollywood, Bollywood and local and international music talent with the carnival atmosphere for which the Caribbean isworld renowed and indeed envied, is sure to draw the attention of current and newcricket fans across the globe. We are going to make sure that all eyes are on the shores of Caribbean in July and August", Khan said.
President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)Dr Jullian Hunte, spoke positively about the future of regional cricket in light of the Board's agreement with the calling the the initiative more than just a tournament but another avenue for advancing the game through player develpment.
"The WICB is particularly pleased about the opportunities the CPL will provide to players but is equally elated with the agreement which will allow for regional retainer contracts for a broad pool of players.These contracts will be funded by the CPL to the tune of US$360,000 annually. This significant investment will truly allow for cricketers in the Caribbean to pursue their profession as professionals", Dr Hunte said.
Managing Director of Verus International Dirk Hall told the attendees that the CPL has choosen the top six T20 players in the region based on their stats and performance in this format of the game.
"Doing it this way ensures that each team is bolstered by a talented, top West Indian player, and that there is balance and fairness across the board on all six teams", Hall said.
Amid much fanfare and excitement featuring pyrotechnic, the six West Indian were revealed by former West Indies bowler now a cricket commenatator Ian Bishop.
There are Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels who was on hand for the evening's festivities. Samuels said he was elated to part of the historic venture.
Hall added that the CPL is in negotiations with six international cricketers who will also be franchise players for each of the six teams.
"We will definitely have non West Indian players in the CPL but there will be restrictions. Only four non West Indian players can be contracted for each team, and the reason for this is our desire to maximise the development opportunties", he explained.
The CPL officials outlined several ways regional players will benefit form the tournament, explaining that each team will comprise of 15 players, six of whom must be local players, four of the players must be under the age of 23. The remainer of the team must consit of regional or local players and a maximum of four international players.
In the case of St Lucia, locals are deemed to be any players from the Windward Islands and cricketers from any Leeward Islands will be considered local players from Antigua.
The launch was attended by members of the Caribbean media, Ministers of Governments from around the region, regional cricket board representatives, executives from the WICB and several legends of West Indies cricket including Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Wesly Hall, Clive Lloyd, Desmond Haynes and Joel Garner.
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