Antigua-based franchise to Replace Jamaica Tallawahs in 2024 CPL

The Jamaica Tallawahs, three-time champions of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2013, 2016, and 2022, will not be participating in the 2024 season.

The Tallawahs franchise, formerly owned by Kris Persaud, a Guyanese businessman based in Florida, has been sold back to the CPL, leading to the introduction of a new franchise based in Antigua and Barbuda.

The decision to sell the Tallawahs came as a result of the owners’ inability to find a sustainable way to operate the team, according to a CPL spokesperson who spoke with ESPNCricinfo.

The void left by the absence of the Tallawahs will be filled by a yet-to-be-named Antigua-based franchise, marking a return of the CPL to the island after the Antigua Hawksbills’ stint in the initial two seasons.

The Antigua Hawksbills faced a lackluster performance, winning only three matches, and were subsequently replaced by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.

Now, Antigua and Barbuda are set to once again host a CPL franchise in 2024.

Daryll Matthew, the minister of sports in the Antigua and Barbuda Senate, outlined the financial benefits of hosting a CPL franchise, stating, “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.”

This announcement aligns with the government’s commitment to bolstering sports and entertainment in the region.

Despite the absence of the Tallawahs in 2024, the CPL remains dedicated to Jamaica and plans to reintroduce a franchise based in the country in the future.

However, this reintegration is expected to take place no earlier than 2025, according to a CPL spokesperson.

In the upcoming 2024 season, six teams will participate in the CPL, with franchises based in Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis and Saint Lucia.

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