https://www.sportsmax.tv/: The Jamaica Tallawahs are one of only two Caribbean Premier League (CPL) teams, alongside the Trinbago Knight Riders, with at least three titles to their name.
They won the inaugural tournament in 2013 before doing so again in 2016 and 2022.
In the next edition of the Caribbean’s biggest T20 showcase, the Tallawahs will not be present.
In their place will be a not-yet-named Antigua-based franchise. This won’t be Antigua’s first time hosting a franchise as, for the first two editions of the CPL, they were the home of the Antigua Hawksbills who won only three of their 16 games before eventually replaced by the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
After acquiring the team in 2017, Guyanese businessman Kris Persaud sold the Tallawahs back to the CPL ahead of the 2024 season because he said he was unable to sustain the team given a lack of support from the Jamaican Government.
Former Tallawahs CEO, Jeff Miller, shed more light on this lack of support from the Government.
“Over the years, we have failed to get any backing or support from the Jamaican Government. We have submitted proposals over the years requesting Government support and we have failed to reach some kind of agreement to say that the Government is supporting the franchise,” Miller told SportsMax.tv in an interview on Wednesday.
“The business plan of CPL entails that the Governments play a major role in financial support of the franchises and that’s what the other franchises are receiving from their respective countries and Jamaica has failed to participate in those environs,” he added.
In fact, Jamaica, one of the regions proudest cricketing nations, has not hosted a CPL game since September 2019 when the Tallawahs lost by 20 runs to the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
“Unfortunately, the franchise cannot be sustained in Jamaica. We cannot have a franchise where we don’t have home games,” Miller said.
“When you don’t have home games, you’re losing ticket sales, you’re losing merchandising, you’re losing concession, you’re losing sponsors. So, it’s not only the government support, you’re losing others as well because what business would want to support a franchise and they can’t get any benefits from the franchise playing within the country? For what we see, there were no games scheduled for 2024 either! It’s unsustainable,” Miller added.
This was due to the reluctance of the Government to pay the CPL hosting fee for the last four years. When asked why this was, Miller said he wasn’t privy to those discussions but always had promises from Jamaica’s Minister of Sport, the hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange regarding financial support.
“I’m not at privilege to those conversations. Those conversations would’ve been between them and CPL. I’m not sure what transpired but from the Tallawahs standpoint, we know that the minister was very graceful in her discussions with us but when it came to funding that’s when things would go off track. We were promised on numerous occasions that there would be something in the budget, nothing substantial but even a small gesture, we were not able to receive those funds,” he said.
Persaud and Miller will lead the new Antigua-based franchise which will be part of next year’s competition, replacing the Tallawahs in the six-team Twenty20 tournament. The CPL is in search of new owners for the Jamaica-based franchise.
Miller said they have gotten commitments from the Antiguan Government and are looking forward to a fruitful partnership in the future.
“We have commitments from the Antiguan Government. We can’t disclose any information, per se, but it’s substantially more than what we were getting from Jamaica,” he said.
“We can’t tell the players; Jamaica’s not supporting us so we can’t pay your salary. All of those things have to be taken care of so we’re looking forward to greener pastures and Antigua seems to be in a better position to support and seems to want to have a CPL team back in Antigua. We think it’s a good fit for the franchise,” Miller added.
Announcements related to the branding of the new Antigua franchise will come next month, according to Miller,
“I’m engaging the fans in Antigua to participate in the naming of the franchise. That deadline should be around January 20th or so. Then, we will announce the name as well as the colors and logo,” he said.
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Sad that the Jamaica Tallawahs 🇯🇲 can no longer take part in the CPL T20, but I’m so pleased that Antigua are returning to the Caribbean cricketing family. Beautiful!
I recall waving my large Antiguan flag 🇦🇬 in the Kensington Oval ground amongst the boisterous Bajan supporters – it felt like I was the only Antiguan in the ground … Mi never care, I love my country!
Welcome back Antigua 👏🏾
BTW, here are three suggested names for the new franchise team:
1), Antigua Wadadlians (not bad)
2), Antigua Stingrays (good possibility)
Or
3), Antigua Gastonites (most likely to win) 🤣
When will we realize that “big” Jamaica is not mentally part of the small West Indies? They would only support the team financially, if they owned it. Just leave them in their big island glory.
I wish them well. This is will a boost for Antigua’s economy through Sports Tourism.
#EdgeUp #AhFuMe #YahSoSo
Why should tax payers monies fund a privately own franchise.
That is one side of the equation.When visitors come they stay at Hotels, guest houses, need transport and food plus merchandise.Look at it on the other side of the equation
Why should tax payers monies be use to fund a privately own franchise .
The Jamaica Government did not participate in the financing of the Tallawahs.Why would the Government put their tax payers dollars into a Private Business? Is our Government going to use taxpayers money to help financed this new franchise?The last time their was a CPL Franchise in Antigua.The attendance to those games were so low.You could run cows around the ground and not disturbed the games.That is why they called it quit.England played two games against West Indies in Antigua earlier this month.If it were not for the Barmy Army.There would be no one in the Stadium.
It is sad that Antigua was not able to take over the 20/20 franchise started by Allen Stanford. That franchise caught the attention of the entire cricket world. Especially when the team beat the English team so bad and was broadcasted through ESPN through the whole cricket world. Brilliant concept not allowing Island teams to have any foreigners and therefore gave young unknown cricketers a chance to shine on the big stage. It developed local cricket as they prepared for the games and players were given a salary and provided with the right nutrition.
We let outsiders come and steal our cake and sell it back to us.
I’m not completely for this.
From The Sidelines: Do you realized that amount of money Stanford spent on his 20/20 Tournament.Go back and check the documents from that his time. Then again,he was not spending his money.Could that be one of the reasons he is in the Federal Penn.
Tuna I am in total agreement with you. These teams are privately owned. Cricket West Indies is also a private organization. These boards are like politicians they vote them in power and then they are LORDS unto themselves. The population of the Caribbean is not sufficient to sustain our cricket. The governments of the caribbean owes billions of dollars for loans taken out since World Cup 2007. They spend millions annually to upkeep them and gain absolutely nothing. The only time they make something is when they rent them out to have private shoes / events. The days of West Indian cricket done dead long time. Our youngsters are now engaged in other sports or criminal activities. Gone are the days when every boy in the Caribbean new how to hold a bat . Of course we are going to produce the odd cricketer here and there but does it worth it for an entire nation to spend billions.
Antigua for example spend more money in the upkeep and maintenance of the Stadium than the hospital. Is that Right?
@ Frankly Speaking, I take UMBRAGE when you say:
“Our youngsters are now engaged in other sports or criminal activities …”
“CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES???”
What a disgusting and stereo typical viewpoint of people with a dark skin, that is normally held by ignorant and racist Caucasians.
You sound to me like someone who rarely come across black professionals; black entrepreneurs; black academics or even traditional white-collar workers of a darker hew.
Frankly Speaking, you need to get out and mix a lot more …
Look who’s talking about going out and mix more. Mr ANR resident himself. Jokes really do write themselves😂😂
@ Chupes, any response to the ACTUAL article on the cricket?
OWZAT … CLEAN BOWLED 🏏
By Brixtonian 😁
Lol u really are a joke. When ever called put on your bs straight to deflecting u go
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