Antigua & Barbuda Falcons unveiled as new CPL franchise

On Tuesday, February 20, the owners of the newly unveiled Antigua & Barbuda Falcons franchise announced that they will be replacing the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League.

The announcement was made in an opening ceremony held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, the home ground of the new franchise.

Krishna Persaud, founder and president of Worldwide Sports Management Group, the owners of the franchise, expressed his excitement about the new addition.

“The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons will bring a unique energy and vitality to the Republic Bank CPL,” he said.

With a desire to establish a winning culture both on and off the field, the team is committed to achieving success and creating a positive experience for all involved, including the fans who will be cheering them on at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Antigua previously hosted a franchise named Antigua Hawksbills in the first two CPL seasons, but they won only three matches and were replaced by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.

With the entry of Antigua & Barbados, Jamaica will not host a game in CPL 2024. The CPL has announced that there will be efforts to create a Jamaica-based franchise, but that it will be in 2025 at the earliest.

Sabina Park in Jamaica last hosted a CPL match in 2019, and the league’s chief executive Pete Russell had criticised the island for its reluctance to engage with cricket.

The details of the coaching and management staff for the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons franchise will be announced at a later date.

The 2024 edition of the CPL will take place from August 28 to October 6, and the games will be hosted across six venues, including Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. The National Stadium in Providence, Guyana, will host the final.