00:02This year's Republic Bank CPL saw an increase from 6 to 7 teams, with runners-up Jamaica
00:08Kingsmen being the newest franchise. According to cricket commentator Alex Jordan, it was
00:13refreshing to see another Jamaica team in the tournament since the Talawars were disbanded
00:18some years ago. Regarding the overall competition, which saw Antigua and Barbada Falcons being
00:23crowned first-time champions, Jordan gave the 2026 edition the thumbs up.
00:29There were so many new innovations and we had only our third ever hat trick. We had more
00:37centuries than I can remember and I think most crucially we saw the emergence of young
00:44Caribbean talent in Vytel Laws, in Zachary Carter, in Jakeem Pollard, in Kamil Puran, etc. So
00:56we saw some guys really making an impact and playing big roles on a big stage.
01:02Speaking of some of the standouts, Kamil Puran made 250s in his debut season for St. Lucia
01:08Kings and averaged 39 to make the West Indies T20 squad against India. And Jordan has no
01:15doubt in her mind that he deserves his pick, while speaking highly of some of the others
01:19that made a name for themselves in this year's CPL.
01:22Kamil Puran, even though he's 30, I think he's got some good years ahead of him and showed
01:28wonderful potential with the bat. Jakeem Pollard, everyone is talking about him from the Barbados
01:34Tridents, the left arm Pesa. That is a genuine prospect and, of course, a skill set badly needed
01:42in the West Indies set up. And Zachary Carter, I so enjoyed watching him bat. Brilliant stuff.
01:52Vytel Laws. Yeah, well, we saw Vytel Laws get his international debut just before the CPL. But I
01:57think he proved and continued to prove, even in the T20 format here at CPL, that he is
02:04a real valuable acquisition as well. Regarding the ladies, Jordan was also delighted that
02:11Lima Call women's CPL saw an increase from three franchises to four, with Jamaica Empress making
02:17their debut. It ran close to two weeks, with a nail-biting final seeing Guyana Amazon Warriors
02:22getting the better of Trinbago Knight Riders by two wickets. But there are some things that the
02:27well-respected cricket commentator hopes to see in the future. I hope it's even longer next year,
02:32because still only eight games, so not a lot of time for the women, you know, to develop into
02:38their seasons. But it was really, really good. And I have to say I was very disappointed with the
02:44turnout. It's going to take more than people just saying, hey, come, we've got to give incentive
02:49for people in this part of the world, because the rest of the world has cottoned on to the quality
02:53of
02:53women's cricket. But the Caribbean is really vastly behind in that area, and we don't get good crowds.
02:59Just for the record, the Amazon Warriors and TKR have one title each, whereas the Barbados franchise,
03:06under the previous name Barbados Royals, have three. Vinod Nawani, Chiefs Export.
03:11Activating!
03:12Activating!
Comments