ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have announced the launch of the West Indies Breakout League, a groundbreaking cricket tournament aimed at unearthing and nurturing the region’s next generation of cricketing talent.

The inaugural edition of the league is set to run from April 25 to May 10, 2025, featuring six teams and 17 thrilling matches, all to be held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

The six participating teams are Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Rainforest Rangers, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, Trinidad & Tobago Legions and Windward Islands Infernos.

The tournament is specifically designed for emerging players, with eligibility criteria requiring participants to be under 30 years old at the start of the 2025 event and to have limited professional experience — no more than 40 List A Twenty20 matches and fewer than 10 International T20s. This focus on young, less-experienced players aims to create a platform for them to shine and accelerate their development.

The West Indies Breakout League seeks to bridge the gap between domestic, CPL, and international cricket. Each team will be closely linked to its local territorial board and a CPL franchise, ensuring a seamless pathway for players to progress to higher levels of the game.

Miles Bascombe, CWI’s director of cricket, expressed his excitement about the initiative.“This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the next wave of players to get the game time they need to push through to the next level and add depth to our T20 talent pool. We are delighted to collaborate with the CPL on this initiative which promises to provide a strong platform for up-and-coming talent in the West Indies.”

Pete Russell, CEO of Republic Bank CPL, had similar enthusiasm.

“We are excited to join forces with Cricket West Indies to deliver a world-class and sustainable tournament. This initiative is not only an investment in the future of West Indies cricket but also a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to witness exceptional talent and great cricket.”

2025 West Indies Breakout League Fixtures

April 25, 2 pm: Guyana Rainforest Rangers vs Windward Islands Infernos

April 25, 7 pm: Trinidad & Tobago Legions vs Barbados Pelicans

April 26, 2 pm: Jamaica Titans vs Leeward Islands Thunder

April 26, 7 pm: Trinidad & Tobago Legions vs Guyana Rainforest Rangers

April 29, 2 pm: Jamaica Titans vs Guyana Rainforest Rangers

April 29, 7 pm: Barbados Pelicans vs Windward Islands Infernos

April 30, 2 pm: Trinidad & Tobago Legions vs Jamaica Titans

April 30, 7 pm: Barbados Pelicans vs Leeward Islands Thunder

May 2, 2 pm: Jamaica Titans vs Barbados Pelicans

May 2, 7 pm: Leeward Islands Thunder vs Trinidad & Tobago Legions

May 4, 2 pm: Windward Islands Infernos vs Trinidad & Tobago Legions

May 4, 7 pm: Guyana Rainforest Rangers vs Leeward Islands Thunder

May 6, 2 pm: Barbados Pelicans vs Guyana Rainforest Rangers

May 6, 7 pm: Jamaica Titans vs Windward Islands Infernos

May 7, 7 pm: Leeward Islands Thunder vs Windward Islands Infernos

May 9, 7 pm: Playoff – 2nd place vs 3rd place

May 10, 7 pm: Final – 1st place vs play-off winner

All matches will be held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad.