Franchise owners targeting Powell, King and Russell for upcoming CPL

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaican trio of Rovman Powell, Andre Russell and Brandon King are among the key targets for Kingsmen Sports Enterprise, who are hoping to assemble a title-contending franchise in this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

This year’s CPL, which is slated to run from August to September 20, will see the return of a Jamaican franchise after a two-year absence, following the successful takeover by United States-based Kingsmen, owned by Pakistan-born businessman Fawad Sarwar.

The hard-hitting duo of Powell and King are currently in India with the West Indies team as part of their 15-member squad for the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, while Russell announced his retirement from international cricket last year.

However, it is left to be seen if they will be able to acquire their targets.

Powell, who guided the Jamaica Tallawahs to the title in 2022, has captained the Barbados Royals for the last three seasons, while King, who led the Tallawahs in 2023 before their hiatus, also played for the Royals in 2025, having joined the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in 2024.

Meanwhile, Russell left the Tallawahs ahead of the 2022 season to join the Trinbago Knight Riders, where he won the title last season.

Last year, 37-year-old Russell said he was interested in ending his CPL career with the Jamaican franchise, while Powell told the Jamaica Observer in 2023 that he was hoping to come “back home”.

CMC