The 2024 edition of the Caribbean Premier League is going to start on August 30, inaugurating with a new franchise, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. Simultaneously, this new franchise has come at the cost of one of the most iconic teams in the championship: the Jamaica Tallawahs. The Tallawahs have been part of the CPL since their first edition in 2013 but won’t be there in 2024. This decision now brings an end to an era for the Jamaican cricket fans, who have witnessed their team dominate the biggest tournament in the Caribbean, along with winning multiple CPL titles.
Now, one of the biggest reasons behind the Tallawahs not participating in the 2024 CPL is the unwillingness shown by the Jamaican government. Former franchise owner Kris Persaud has reportedly spoken about his decision to relocate the franchise to Antigua due to a lack of support. Guyana-born Florida-based businessman Persaud, who took over the Tallawahs in 2017 from Manish Patel, has been at the helm of the team since then.
While Persaud had been able to deliver a win for the Tallawahs in 2016 and 2022, he strongly felt that the sheer disinterest of the Jamaican government in the team’s contributions towards boosting the economy or improving anything around the area made continuing in that country impossible.
An official announcement was made on 30 December 2023 that the Jamaica Tallawahs won’t be a part of the 2024 CPL season. It was announce that in its place, Persaud would own a new franchise, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. A decision was to be made that moving the team base to Antigua would prove optimum due to its rich cricketing culture and, more so, a supportive environment for this sport. The Falcons will play their home games at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, steeped in cricketing history.
The Jamaica Tallawahs have definitely left their imprint on the CPL, winning the inaugural event in 2013 and going on to win two more in 2016 and 2022. With a great record at Sabina Park as their home venue, Tallawahs have been one of the sides guaranteeing good cricketing action in all their games. They were also the only team in CPL history to field an all-local lineup, validating the depth of Jamaican talent in cricket.
As the CPL prepares to welcome the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, it will bid farewell to the Jamaica Tallawahs—a team that itself played its part very well in making this tournament an absolute success. But certainly, the Jamaican fans will miss their beloved team as the Falcons make a new chapter for the CPL, which surely will sustain the legacy of enthralling cricket from this part of the world. With cricket legends like Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Curtly Ambrose involved with the Falcons, the future looks bright for this new franchise that is going to take its place in the CPL.
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Who is the owner of new CPL franchise Antigua & Barbuda Falcons?
