WITH a Jamaican franchise on course to return to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) next year, Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Dr Donovan Bennett says he wants the new owners to help develop young talent in the country.

As first reported by the Jamaica Observer in August, CPL are in advanced talks with an Indian Premier League (IPL) ownership group for the franchise’s reintroduction to the region’s Twenty20 (T20) showpiece, following a two-year absence after the departure of former owner Kris Persaud to the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.

In early September the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Tourism announced that they were finalising arrangements for a public-private partnership ahead of the 2026 season.

News emerged last Friday that the co-owners of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, the GMR Group, are set to become the new owners of what would be the seventh CPL franchise. The Observer has learnt that there’s optimism the deal can be closed by the end of this month, but all parties are on course to meet the December deadline.

It’s unclear whether the franchise will continue as the Jamaica Tallawahs but CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell told the Observer that it is their “intention to work with the new ownership team to have a name that resonates with the Jamaican people”.

Along with the Delhi Capitals, the GMR Group has oversight of other global franchises including the Dubai Capitals in the United Arab Emirates-based ILT T20, Southern Brave in England’s The Hundred tournament, and Seattle Orcas in the USA’s Major League Cricket.

Although not involved in the discussions surrounding the Jamaican franchise’s return, Bennett told the
Observer that a main objective of the future owners is to play a huge role in player development locally.

“The players get tremendous benefit [from CPL’s return],” he said.

“I don’t know what the potential franchise owners have as plans as far as the development of the game in Jamaica is concerned, but I would want to think that they would want to put an input into the development of the junior players in the country because that would be a benefit to them also to develop a cadre of good players that can satisfy the demands of their franchise.”

The JCA boss also believes there will be a resurgence of interest in cricket when the CPL returns to Sabina Park.

“It’s an exciting time — and of course the public has been craving for more cricket,” Bennett said. “Over the past 10-15 years not enough cricket has been played in Jamaica, and that has affected the interests of both spectators and potential players. So, I think the more cricket that we play here at that level, the more youngsters are going to be interested in getting involved in the game.”

Bennett believes the CPL will deliver significant gains for the country on a whole, though he doesn’t foresee a financial boost for the local cricket governing body.

“This is now private enterprise so the JCA coffers, I’m sure, will not benefit very much from having a franchise here,” he said. “But certainly the economy of the country would have tremendous benefits because it brings in tourists, it stimulates the entire economy — the people who sell at the stadium and out of the stadium, the people who provide all the necessary inputs to that franchise we need.”

The JCA and Kingston Cricket Club (KCC) should stand to generate some funds from CPL’s return as they are co-owners of Sabina Park. The last CPL game held at the venue was during the 2019 season.

The Jamaica Tallawahs are still the second most successful CPL franchisewith three titles — 2013, 2016 and 2022.

Wicketkeeper Kennar Lewis (centre) of Jamaica Tallawahs and teammate Fabian Allen (right) celebrate the dismissal of Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Guyana Amazon Warriors during the Hero Caribbean Premier League Qualifier 2 match at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo: CPL via Getty Images)

Jamaica Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett (Photo: Observer file)