CPL comes to the US

CPL comes to the US
Associated Press / Aijaz Rahi, File

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will stage six matches in the United States during the upcoming season.

The landmark move will see the premier regional Twenty20 tournament unveiled in the Americas for the first time.

Matches are to the played in Florida, Miami, at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in July 2016.

CPL chief executive Damien O’Donohoe described the move as a “massive boost” for cricket in the United States.

“This project has been in discussion for many months and we are grateful to the ICC (International Cricket Council) for supporting this move which enables us to step up our planning and open up opportunities for the cricket-hungry American public,” he said.

Donohoe said the CPL has already had a positive impact in the Caribbean and “we are excited about bringing top quality cricket to the USA”.

ICC head of Global Development, Tim Anderson said the decision to play CPL games in the United States was a “positive step forward for all cricket followers in the U.S.”

Since its inception in 2013, all CPL matches have bene played exclusively in the Caribbean among the six franchises attached to the various countries.

Trinbago Knight Riders, former Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, are the reigning champions after defeating the Barbados Tridents in last year’s final at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.