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JAMAICA Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett says there are plans to have a new team representing the nation in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament.

Bennett expects a team in place for the next season, which is expected to start this August.

“This happens to be an extension of an IPL [Indian Premier League] franchise coming to Jamaica,” Bennett told the Jamaica Observer on Monday. “It’s not signed off yet but it is being worked on and being negotiated as we speak.”

Bennett says these plans mean that Sabina Park, which would host the team’s games, would need immediate upgrades. He says two of the most pressing needs are a new scoreboard, which has already been sourced, and upgrades to the lighting as several CPL matches occur at night.

“So, we have a lot of work to do but everything is in train,” Bennett said.

The Tallawahs debuted as one of the original six teams in CPL 2013 and represented Jamaica until 2023. In that time it won three CPL titles (2013, 2016, and 2022).

Its owners had repeated concerns about funding throughout its time in Jamaica, especially because of what they say was insufficient financial support from the Government and also because of dwindling attendance figures at Sabina Park. That led to the team hosting only two of its five home games there during the 2018 season, with the others played in Lauderhill, Florida. Its final season with matches played in Jamaica was in 2019, with the following seasons played in specific territories across the Caribbean, initially because of COVID-19 and the resultant restriction on movement.

The team then moved to Antigua and Barbuda, where it competed for the first time last season as the Falcons.

Source: Jamaicaobserver.com

In reply to Slipfeeler

Wonder if JA can get back the Tallawah name?

In reply to Slipfeeler

They can call it Tallawah Challengers Bangalore

In reply to Prako

Das a long ass name lol

In reply to Prako

Bangalore Tallawah

In reply to Prako

Wah di rass!! Yuh renaming Kingston as Bangalore now? How about the Jamaica Challengers?

In reply to Slipfeeler

We all know that the franchise owner selects the name ...

Bro from day one of the formation and giveaway of PL I said a well administered JCA/CWI would have seen Yard with at least 2 Franchises- one out of Trelawny/North Coast, Tallahassee and possibly even a Franchise based out of Cayman or Fort Lauderdale. Instead dem man cyan even sustain 1

In reply to Brerzerk

Concurring

Maybe they can bring Koli

In reply to Slipfeeler

The Problem is not the name of the term, Fans are hesitant to go to Jamaica, due to security and crime.

In reply to Brerzerk

What would constitute “well administered” to you?

Neither CWI nor the respective boards of the established CPL franchises in St Kitts, St Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, and Guyana have any problem sustaining franchises in those territories. Trinidad and Guyana in particular have no issue with dwindling attendance.

If CPL is successful everywhere else, what is it about Jamaica that has made CPL not viable for the Jamaica market?

Can’t blame CWI. They have nothing to do with the success of lack thereof of CPL.

In reply to imusic

A well administered CWI would've bargained and sold for a proper price The CPL. Then that money should've been apportioned sensibly. If JA to the north furthest away from other CWI associates require that JCA needs a Lil bit more money then both JCA and CWI should understand that. A good CWI marketing team should've been able to attract investors for 2 good Yard franchises and lo al business support. History shows that both WI and any JA Fran hise playing good attractive cricket get support. What destroyed Tallawahs wasn't lack of govt. support as much as owners stupidly not retain the better Jamaplayers but puttout both a weak, unbalanced almost non-Jamaican team which turned fans off. Playing games in Fla didn't help.

In reply to Edrich