JAMAICA Kingsmen have announced that noted international coach Grant Bradburn will lead the team’s coaching staff for the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, with a coaching unit boasting a wealth of experience and talent as the franchise eyes the 2026 title.

Head Coach Bradburn, who represented New Zealand at the test and one-day international level, has had significant success in the coaching ranks since retiring more than 20 years ago.

He helped guide the Hyderabad Kingsmen to an impressive run to the Pakistan Super League final during the franchise’s inaugural season in May.

Grant Bradburn

Previously, Bradburn had a successful stint with Pakistan between 2018 and 2024, first as fielding coach and head of high-performance coaching at the National Cricket Academy before leading the team as head coach at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Bradburn also led Scotland’s national team from 2014 to 2018, guiding the team to historic appearances at the 2015 ICC World Cup and the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Bradburn said: “Over the past few months, we have been planning and shaping our squad and as head coach, I am confident we have selected a high-quality group of players and staff, capable of putting Jamaica Kingsmen into CPL title contention. We are all super excited to bring Kingsmen to Jamaica. We will aim to represent the beautiful island nation with Kingsmen’s dynamic style, high skill and entertainment.”

He will be assisted by Robert Samuels, one of Jamaica’s most successful coaches. Samuels, who represented the West Indies in Test and ODI formats and played more than 100 first-class matches for Jamaica, has coached at every level of the game in both the men’s and women’s ranks.

He has led the Jamaica Scorpions at several regional tournaments, recently coached the Under-19 team at the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars tournament, and served as head coach of the West Indies women’s team.

Nkrumah Bonner, Jamaica Kingsmen team manager (Photo: CWI Media)

Samuels, no stranger to franchise cricket, led the Trinbago Knight Riders to the first-ever Women’s Caribbean Premier League title in 2022.

The staff is completed by bowling coach Shawn Bradstreet, who has had stints with the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League, batting coach Hanif Malik and trainer Zac Martin, both of whom helped with Hyderabad Kingsmen’s success in PSL 2026.

Former Jamaica and West Indies batsman Nkrumah Bonner will serve as team manager, having won CPL titles with Jamaica Tallawahs.

Jamaica Kingsmen Head of Operations Atishai Mansingh said: “The mix of local and international experts is what’s going to allow us to uplift our team as well as giving our young local core of Jamaican talent access to different mindsets and different coaching techniques that are internationally used and give them opportunities to enhance their game like never before.”

The Jamaica Kingsmen will begin their 2026 CPL campaign on Friday, August 5 against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at Arnos Vale Stadium in St. Vincent.

They will return to Jamaica thereafter where CPL will be played in Jamaica for the first time since 2019 with matches scheduled for August 11, 13, 15 and 18.

Robert Samuels (Photo: Observer file)