After years of frustration, Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell says he’s excited after seeing the Jamaican Government’s buy-in to a franchise returning to the island next year.

As exclusively revealed by the Jamaica Observer last month, a Jamaican franchise is set to be reintroduced for the 2026 season of the CPL with talks advancing with potential ownership and the Government.

The region’s premier Twenty20 tournament was reduced to six teams since 2024 following the departure of the Jamaica Tallawahs with owner Kris Persaud selling the rights back to CPL and starting the Falcons franchise in Antigua and Barbuda. Persaud cited lack of government support as a key reason as to why he couldn’t sustainably operate the Jamaican franchise anymore.

In an interview with the Observer in 2023, Russell said he was “baffled” by the Government’s decision not to invest in CPL considering the tournament’s US multimillion-dollar revenues. He also said he never made any real breakthrough with Jamaica’s Sport Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange.

However, on Tuesday, the sports ministry and tourism ministry announced that they are “finalising arrangements to reintroduce a Jamaica franchise to the Caribbean Premier League in August 2026 through a public-private partnership.”

The announcement came on the eve of Jamaica’s general elections on Wednesday.

Russell says he’s pleased with the change of heart from the Government and believes it will positively impact the country.

“We’re delighted that there’s been significant investment at Sabina Park and have had very fruitful and engaging discussions with government and other stakeholders about securing a seventh CPL team which will be domiciled in Jamaica for the 2026 season and beyond,” he said.

“We’ve already seen the tremendous impact that CPL has made on promoting host nations as premier tourism destinations. We therefore look forward to working with all our partners to achieve a similar success in Jamaica,” Russell added.

Grange said she’s confident there will be no hiccups in sealing the team’s return.

“We have resolved many of the challenges and I’m very confident that we will welcome a new CPL franchise to Jamaica in the new season, I’m very optimistic about that,” she said.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says the ministry is committed to boosting sports tourism on the island through cricket.

“Minister Grange, and myself have been collaborating with the CPL team and particularly the franchise holder in Jamaica to ensure that, along with the Jamaica Cricket Association, we are able to advance quality cricket offerings at Destination Jamaica,” said Bartlett.

“We are committed to working with the teams and we look forward to the outcomes that will inure to the constant building of sports tourism as a driver for visitor arrivals and revenue in Jamaica.”

Though the new owner of the franchise hasn’t been announced, the
Observer has learnt that an Indian Premier League ownership group is a heavy frontrunner.

In this Observer file photo, former Jamaica Tallawahs Chief Executive Officer Jeff Miller presents a team shirt to Jamaica’s Minister of Sport Olivia Grange. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Pete Russell, chief executive officer of the Caribbean Premier League

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (Photo: Philp Lemonte)