NEWS
Follow UsIn a major development, IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals have spread their wings on the global T20 circuit, buying the majority stakes of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, Barbados Tridents. Under this deal, Barbados Tridents are now renamed to Barbados Royals, effectively from the upcoming 2021 season of the competition.
The Royals have now become the third IPL franchise to buy a stake in CPL. Trinidad RedSteels were transformed to Trinbago Knight Riders under the banner of Kolkata Knight Riders in 2015 while Punjab Kings bought a stake in St. Lucia Zouks last year. Trinbago and St. Lucia were the finalists in CPL 2020 which the former won comprehensively. Barbabos' campaign, meanwhile, was limited to the penultimate spot on the points table.
Barbados, however, have a rich history in the CPL. They are one of the three franchises to win the title twice - in 2014 and 2019.
The franchise co-owner, Manoj Badale calls this an act under their Royals' Twenty20 network created in 2010. "I would like to think we were on the first few franchises in terms of thinking global when created the Royals' Twenty20 network in 2010," Badale told ESPNCricinfo. He mentioned the Royals' collaboration with Victoria, South Australia, Hampshire, Trinidad in the past under this project. Badale said their programme to expand was halted due to various issues.
He mentioned three reasons behind the decision to buy stakes in Barbados - giving their existing fanbase a chance to follow the Royals behind the limited IPL window every year, trying new things with different resources in different conditions, and a year-long visibility for the sponsors. "The idea of creating a global network behind the Royals brand is something that we are keen to do for many many years, It was the opportunity too good to miss", Badale explained further.
According to him, they have 80% stakes in the Barbados based franchise while the other 20% remains with the Texas-based Manish Patel, the principal of the CMG Companies. Patel's name was earlier associated with Jamaica Tallawahs for three years - 2014 to 2016 - before he sold his stake. He came back to the CPL circles in 2019, buying Barbados' stocks from Vijay Mallya, the owner of the Royals Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
Badale also hinted the United States as a potential market. Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders also showed their interest in holding stakes in one of the franchises at the upcoming Major Cricket League (MCL) in the USA.
Jason Holder, the current skipper of Barbados Royals will continue leading the side. Meanwhile, Kumar Sangakkara, who was appointed as the head of Cricket Operations at the Rajasthan Royals earlier this year will now oversee the proceedings at Barbados as well. The 2021 CPL season is scheduled to commence from August 26 with all the matches slotted in St. Kitts and Nevis.
