THE new Jamaica T20 franchise holder and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have committed annual investments of US$2.75 million to operate a professional men’s team as well as US$500,000 to establish and operate a professional women’s CPL team, Sport Minister Olivia Grange disclosed on Friday night.

At the same time, the organisers of the regional T20 cricket tournament will be waiving fees for Jamaica’s home games at Sabina Park this year.

Grange made the announcements during the meeting of Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee that examined the 2026-27 Estimates of Expenditure ahead of the budget debate which gets under way on Tuesday.

The total US$3.25-million investment comes as the Jamaica franchise, which has been absent from the tournament in recent editions, is being revived. A name for the team has not yet officially been announced.

“With the return of the Jamaica-based franchise, four matches are scheduled to be played at the iconic Sabina Park, marking the return of CPL matches to Jamaica for the first time since 2019,” Grange said.

“CPL will waive the fee this year, which is normally a part of the host agreement, in consideration of Hurricane Melissa and its impact on the country. Therefore, Jamaica’s input will be primarily value in kind,” Grange added.

She was responding to questions from Opposition spokesman on sports Wavell Hinds, a former Jamaica and West Indies batsman, about how much the Jamaican Government is contributing to the effort.

There is also a long-term commitment to grass roots cricket focusing on programmes for the youth, Grange said, adding that these details will be developed jointly and will involve collaboration with the Jamaican Government and corporate stakeholders to deliver measurable benefits.

Additionally, the sport minister said there is a commitment to invest in sporting infrastructure to position Jamaica as a hub for elite T20 cricket and to ensure global exposure which strengthens Jamaica’s position as a regional leader in the sports tourism sector.

Grange shared that CPL and the new franchise holder will contribute to a partnership with the Ministry of Tourism in order to promote Jamaica as a sports tourism country.

Last month the Jamaica Observer reported that US-based businessman Fawad Sarwar is the new owner of the Jamaica franchise.

Pakistan-born Sarwar currently operates the FKS Group and Kingsmen Sports and Enterprise which owns the Hyderabad franchise in the Pakistan Super League and the Chicago Kingsmen in Minor League Cricket in the USA.

The CPL didn’t reveal the new owner of the Jamaican franchise when it confirmed the T20 tournament’s return to the island in a statement. However, the Observer was told that Sarwar’s takeover will be officially announced in the coming weeks.

Sarwar’s group beat out a number of interested parties to the Jamaica franchise which has been inactive since 2023 following former owner Kris Persaud’s move to start the Falcons franchise in Antigua.

Sabina Park in Kingston will play host to four home matches as Jamaica returns to the Caribbean Premier League with a new franchise this summer.

GRANGE…Jamaica’s input will be primarily value in kind (Photo: Joseph Wellington)