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.

When this new agreement is finalised this team will become the fourth in the CPL under ownership by an IPL franchise. The others are the Trinbago Knight Riders, owned by the Kolkata Knight Riders; the Barbados Royals, owned by the Rajasthan Royals; and the St Lucia Kings, owned by the Punjab Kings.

Bennett also confirmed to the Jamaica Observer that Sabina Park will feature in Australia’s tour of the West Indies this summer, and said there will be other international teams visiting over the next two years.

“We have the Australians coming here in June for one Test match and two T20s,” he said. “In 2026 we have the Pakistanis coming here, and in 2027 we have the Indians coming here. So, we have a full international schedule.”

Sabina Park’s last activity was a Test match in a two-match series between the West Indies and Bangladesh from November 30 to December 3. Bangladesh’s 101-run win allowed them to draw the series 1-1.