Cameron: CPL its own brand of Twenty20 cricket

Dave Cameron, Vice President of the
West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

FORGET drawing comparisons between the newly-created Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the now-defunct Stanford 20/20.

According to Dave Cameron, Vice President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the only thing in common will be the amount of overs being bowled.

In the coming year, the new franchise-based CPL, which the WICB has licensed to merchant bank Verus International for the next 20 years, will replace the regional Caribbean T20.

It will also fill the void left by the collapse of Allen Stanford’s foray into West Indies cricket.

The Stanford 20/20, which was based in Antigua, kick-started Caribbean interest in the shortest form of the game, but since the collapse of the Texan’s financial empire and his imprisonment for fraud, there has been a lack of resources for regional players.

Cameron, who was part of the CPL’s launch in Barbados two weeks ago, told The Barbados Advocate that the tournament was a “seminal” moment for West Indies cricket.

The competition is expected to comprise up to six privately owned city-based franchises and will be played across several Caribbean countries over a one-month period each year.

Following the lead of established leagues, such as India’s IPL and Australia’s Big Bash, players will be bought and sold during an annual auction. The league is also expected to be beamed across the world in high definition and officials say the tournament will also be a showpiece attraction designed to enhance the Caribbean’s tourism product.

Logistical details, such as tournament dates and venues, will be announced in 2013.

“We have been talking about a professional league for sometime now,” said Cameron.

“With the CPL, we are going to be able to bring our own Caribbean brand of entertainment to the rest of the world. I think it will be very exciting.”

Cameron said he saw the expansion of retainer contracts as the biggest benefit to West Indies cricket. He said the agreement between the WICB and Verus International would ensure annual funding for new contracts.

He did add, however, that he was unsure about the rate of expansion for the tournament itself.

The WICB currently offers 20 retainer contracts which are reviewed annually.

“We will be able to offer more retainer contracts to more of our second-tier players. This will show them that there are real opportunities in West Indies cricket,” said Cameron.

“I do not know that we will be able to expand the teams to more than six at the moment, but we’re figuring that we will be able to offer around 60 retainer contracts to other players, as well as kids in school who aspire to be professional cricketers. This will, of course, improve West Indies cricket overall.

“But for this tournament to be successful, it will take all of our support. This is not just about the cricket fraternity; this is about the entire Caribbean.”

The West Indies won the ICC Twenty20 world cup in October when they beat hosts Sri Lanka in a thrilling final.

Already, a plethora of West Indies players are in high demand in the myriad of Twenty20 leagues around the world, with Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Kieron Pollard being the most sought after.