The Caribbean Premier League 2016 kicks off today, with the Trinbago Knight Riders take on St Lucia Zouts, at the Queens’ Park Oval, Trinidad. The tournament promises to be a high-octane one with hosts of quality players including the likes of Ab De Villers, Faf Du Plessis, and Shane Watson, among others. A total of six teams are taking part in CPL 2016- Trinbago Knight Riders led by Dwayne Bravo, Barbados Trident under Kieron Pollard’s captaincy, Guyana Amazon Warriors led by Kiwi opening batsman, Martin Guptill, Jamaica Tallawahs led by the explosive Chris Gayle, St Lucia Zouks by Darren Sammy, who led his team to the 2016 World Cup T20 victory, and finally, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots led by South African, Faf Du Plessis. Let’s take a look at 10 interesting facts about CPL 2016.
#1 SRK owns a team in CPL 2016
In 2015, Red Chillies Entertainment, owners of Indian Premier League franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, purchased a stake in Trinbago Knight Riders (formerly known as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel). The team is based in Trinidad and Tobago and are the defending champions this year.
Knight Riders’ will be led by the likes of Colin Munro and Sunil Narine, who are set to make a big impact in the tournament. Narine has been instrumental in KKR’s success over the past few years, and can trouble batsmen with ease. Some may say he’s not as effective as he used to be before he got banned for illegal bowling action by the ICC, but Narine has adjusted well since, and will be one of the key players of CPL 2016.
Trinbago Knight Riders’ are one of the favourites to win the tournament and be the first team in the history of CPL to win it 2 successive times.
#2 Highest bid was of $160,000 in this years’ auction
Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sohail Tanvir, Lendl Simmons and David Miller were sold in the first round of the CPL draft for US$ 160,000. It was a surprise to see one of the best batsman of recent times, Ab De Villers, not earning the highest amount.
AB De Villers was sold in the second round of the draft to Barbados Tridents for US$ 130,000. Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, Martin Guptill, Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis were the other players to be picked in the second round. Former Pakistan captain, Shoaib Malik, and Sunil Narine, among others, were sold in the third round for US$ 110,000.
Mr. Cricket, Mike Hussey was snapped up by the St. Lucia Zouks for US$90,000, along with the likes of the South African opener, Hashim Amla and destructive West Indies all-rounder, Andre Russell.
#3 Lendl Simmons had holes punched into his bat for checks by USA officials
West Indies’ hero in the semi-finals of this years’ World T20 against hosts, India, Lendl Simmons was held back for his “drug bat”. Simmons was suspected of carrying illegal drugs in his bat.
Simmons was travelling through the country between games for Guyana Amazon Warriors when his bat caught the eye of US customs officials. Cricket remains a largely unknown sport in the USA, the officials feared that the bat could be used to transport illegal drugs, and they drilled it for closer inspection. This incident started trending on Twitter with #drugbat.
Simmons will be a key player for the Guyana franchise, and he would be hoping his bat doesn’t get drilled again.
#4 USA to host 6 CPL 2016 matches
CPL officials confirmed that 6 games of the CPL 2016 will be staged at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, after approval from the ICC. This will go a long way in promoting cricket in the United States, with international cricket stars on display.
CPL chief executive Damien O'Donohoe is very excited by this prospect and was quoted as saying “This project has been in discussion for many months and we are grateful to the ICC for supporting this move which enables us to step up our planning and open up opportunities for the cricket-hungry American public”.
ICC has been concentrating on developing cricket in the States, and the CPL 2016 might do wonders for the development of cricket in the US.
#5 One team has already become defunct
Antigua Hawksbills are the only defunct team so far in the history of Caribbean Premier League. It was one of the six franchises’ in the inaugural CPL season in 2013 and went on to participate in CPL for only two years, till 2014.
Captained by West Indies batsman, Marlon Samuels in both the seasons, Antigua finished fifth in its first season with the Caribbean legend, Viv Richards as their coach. They finished last in the following season, winning only 3 out of 16 games, with Australian Tim Nielsen as their coach.
The Antigua Government had invested large amounts of money in the CPL through the Antigua franchise, but the team had a horror experience in 2014, with only 3 wins and fewer crowds to fill up the stadium. It left a lot to be desired in the government and the team was finally dissolved.
#6 St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are the youngest CPL team
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots came into existence after the withdrawal of Antigua Hawkbills, in 2015. The team plays its’ home games at Warner Park, St Kitts. The team was supported by the St Kitts and Nevis Government, as well as the local businessmen.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots weren’t supposed to replace the Antigua franchise and the CPL 2015 was supposed to feature 7 teams instead of 6, but the Hawkbills pulled out before the start of CPL 2015.
Even though the team is the youngest, they are in the safe hands of Faf Du Plessis, and would be hoping to make an impact in this years’ CPL.
#7 Hollywood Actor Gerald Butler has a share in a team
Famous Hollywood star, Gerald Butler, has an equity share in first-ever CPL champions, Jamaica Tallawahs. Butler bought an equity share in the team just before the end of CPL 2015 and continues to be a part of the Tallawahs’ franchise.
Butler, who stars in a number of top movies such as “Law Abiding Citizen” and “The Ugly Truth”, said that he was in the CPL for the “long haul”. The Jamaican fans would be hoping to see him at one of the home games for the Tallawahs.
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