The Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis has been chosen as the host for six group phase matches, the semi-finals and final of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014 tournament.
The venue, which was originally built for the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, with an 8,000 seating capacity, is set to welcome the Limacol CPL for the very first time, giving the people of St Kitts and Nevis the chance to experience the thrill of the tournament.
The people of St Kitts and Nevis will also be able to enjoy a week of celebration and entertainment put on to support the final, ensuring that the tournament lives up to its reputation as being the “Biggest Party in Sport”, a release from Limacol CPL said.
In addition to the arrival of world class Twenty20 cricket, the local community of St Kitts and Nevis is set to reap the economic and social benefits created by the tournament.
A recently released report from the Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies (UWI) revealed that last year’s competition contributed to the gross domestic product (GDP) of all six host countries, with a combined impact of US$105 million generated across the region.
Warner Park has undergone recent developments to enable it to host Limacol CPL matches with the construction of state of the art lighting facilities. In addition to being awarded the games, the investment is set to be key to the development of local grassroots projects, with the country’s Sport Ministry planning to utilise Warner Park’s new capabilities to hold after-school programmes for local students.
“We cannot wait to bring the big-hitting excitement of the Limacol CPL to Warner Park,” said Pete Russell, Chief Operations Officer. “By awarding these prestigious matches to St Kitts and Nevis, we are demonstrating that the whole of the Caribbean can celebrate and enjoy the successes of this global tournament.”
Rusell said the renovation of the stadium was a key factor in the bid succeeding. “The new facilities are second to none, and we’re keen to provide show-stopping cricket to match,” he said.
St Kitts and Nevis Sport Minister Glenn Phillip said his government is delighted to welcome some of the biggest stars in cricket to Warner Park during this year’s competition.
“Carnival cricket has always been synonymous with the Caribbean, and we’re looking forward to showing an audience of millions around the globe that St Kitts and Nevis can host a party like no other,” he said.
Over 100 Caribbean players have thrown their hats into the ring in the hope of earning a contract to take part in the “Biggest Party in Sport”, alongside a host of international stars.
This year’s tournament will give cricketers from across the Caribbean the opportunity to play alongside or against some of the best players in the world.
A total of 107 players in the region, from up-and-coming youngsters to established West Indian international players, will go into the draft alongside big name stars from 11 nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and, for the first time, England.
Australia will have the largest overseas group in the Draft with 30 names, including 15 international cricketers, while the vast majority of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad have also signed up.
New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka are also well represented and the Draft will include several current and former international captains, leading Test stars, T20 specialists, and limited overs legends.
The full list of players will be announced to the public next week.
The tournament returns in July and August 2014 where Jamaica Tallawahs will defend their title against the Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.
Meanwhile, Limacol CPL has confirmed that an impressive 228 players have registered for the 2014 Draft, which will take place in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 3.
The number includes 121 overseas players, more than five times the number that entered the 2013 Draft.
