10 months ago
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Two of the region’s most prominent leaders are calling for a reopening of the Caribbean Premier League contract , adding that the “lopsided” contract must not stand.
The question of the CPL contract with Cricket West Indies and its ramifications, dominated conversations on the opening day of the two day Caricom Regional Cricket Conference at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, in Port of Spain.
Wayne Walker has the details.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and his Bajan counterpart Mia Mottley raised questions over the contract….
Governance reform, Youth development and the business of cricket was also discussed.
It is not the first time Rowley, who is Chair of the Caricom Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, has been critical of the CPL deal with CWI to establish a professional T20 league in the Caribbean in 2013, but Mottley, also touched on the issue during the first panel discussion of the forum entitled “State of West Indies Cricket,
Former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd, CWI president Kishore Shallow and an Oder of the British Empire Peter Griffith were also a part of the discussion.
The CPL currently has a 50 year deal with Cricket West Indies and Rowley is of the view that the regional must have a larger share in the multi-billion-dollar cricket industry.
“There are opportunities and sometimes we lose those opportunities. One opportunity lost is to be in a position to ensure that (we are) in the multi-billion industry and the money-making part of the business,” said Rowley.
Lloyd, with Shallow and CPL CEO Pete Russell in the audience, questioned, “who signs a 50 year contract”
Mottley was more directed, demanding to see the CPL contract, because she says she really believes that a contract that is so unequally yoked ought not to stand for 50 years.
Dr. Shallow confirmed the 50-year deal with CPL but said they were working to get more out of it in recent years.
The 50 year deal still has 38 more years to run with the CPL only 12 years old.
English (US) ·