Jamaica Tallawahs to be replaced in CPL by Antigua-based franchise

The Jamaica Tallawahs will not be a part of the 2024 season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as the franchise will be replaced by a franchise from Antigua. The Tallawahs are the second-most successful team in the history of CPL. They won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2013, before bagging the coveted title a couple of times in 2016 and 2022.

In 2022, they were led by current West Indies T20I captain Rovman Powell. This year, talented opener Brandon King was at the helm. Under his leadership, the three-time champions were ousted in Qualifier 2 by eventual champions Guyana Amazon Warriors. Tallawahs was owned by a Guyanese businessman, based in Florida, named Kris Persaud. He sold the franchise back to the CPL.

"The owners were left with no option but to sell the Tallawahs back to CPL as they could not find a way to operate the team sustainably," a CPL spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.

Fans in Antigua, however, have a lot to rejoice as they will have a franchise from their region, which will take part in CPL 2024 in place of the Tallawahs. The Antigua-based franchise has not been named as yet. Notably, the first two CPL seasons saw a team called Antigua Hawksbills taking part. They won just three matches and were subsequently replaced in 2015 by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

In a report by Antigua Observer, earlier this week, the minister of sports in the Antigua and Barbuda Senate, Daryll Matthew expressed interest in hosting a CPL franchise from the island nation in 2024.

"We can expect very easily and conservatively to generate approximately US$6 million per year by simply having a CPL franchise based in Antigua and Barbuda," Matthew said.

However, CPL has already made plans to bring in a franchise from Jamaica. Although that won't come to fruition before the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league.

"The CPL remains committed to having a team based in Jamaica, but this will be in 2025 at the earliest. In 2024, there will be six teams taking part in the CPL with franchises based in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago," a spokesperson stated.

I'm a Jamaican and I want to play in front of my home crowd: Rovman Powell

The 30-year-old Powell recently led the West Indies to a 3-2 T20I series win against England. His home ground, Sabina Park, in Jamaica, will not host any matches during next year's T20 World Cup in June. Powell expressed his disappointment as he would not be able to play in front of his home fans. He urged the West Indies Cricket Board and the Jamaican government to have a discussion and settle the issue.

"Obviously I'm a Jamaican and I want to play in front of my home crowd, but for the last few years, I haven't. The West Indies Cricket Board and the Jamaican government really have to sit down and have a conversation about that," Powell said.

Notably, Jamaica has not hosted a CPL match since 2019. The 2024 edition of CPL, sans Jamaica Tallawahs, is expected to commence in August and run into September.