CPL 2016: 5 Indian connections in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League
While the BCCI doesn’t allow Indian cricket stars to participate in the Caribbean Premier League currently, there is still plenty of connection that India shares with the league currently. The players not being allowed to play in the CPL is due to the fact that the BCCI wants to protect the IPL, and has in each player’s contract a certain IPL Clause. Every IPL contract signed by the player, the franchise and the league, comes with clause 8.2 - The player covenants with the Franchisee and IPL that he shall not during the term:
- (a) participate in India in any competition or league which is the same as or similar to the League without an express no objection certificate from IPL; or
- (b) participate anywhere in the world in any competition which is the same as or similar to the CLT20; or
- (c) participate in any Twenty20 cricket competition anywhere in the world which is (i) not officially recognised by the official national governing body for cricket in the country where such competition takes place, or (ii) not approved by the ICC in the absence of any such national governing body; or (iii) "Disapproved Cricket" as set out under any applicable ICC regulations; or
- (d) participate in any other cricket competition anywhere in the world which is or could reasonably be considered to be similar to or competitive with the League save for any competition which acts as a qualifying competition for CLT20.
- While in the future we may see the BCCI loosen these rules, for now, we need to be content with the plethora of cricket talent on display in the Caribbean.
- We take a look at 5 Indian connections in the CPL 2016:
Shah Rukh Khan owned Trinbago Knight Riders
In 2015, Red Chillies Entertainment, led by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla purchased a stake in the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel. Red Chillies Entertainment also owns the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders. This, marked the first time an IPL team has invested in a Twenty20 cricket league outside India. Further, In 2016, Red Chillies Entertainment took over the team's operations and changed the name to the Trinbago Knight Riders.
As the reigning champions of the Twenty20 competition, the re-name reflects the vision of the franchise’s dynamic ownership for Trinidad & Tobago. Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Trinbago Knight Riders, said: "It is a great honour to become part of the rich cricketing tradition of Trinidad & Tobago. We will do everything to uphold the tradition and thank all the people of Trinbago in advance for their passion and support.”
Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR added: "The acquisition of the Trinbago franchise is consistent with our vision to expand the "Knight Riders" brand globally. We are proud of the powerful KKR brand we have built in India as part of the IPL as well as the ever-growing fan base. We now look forward to expanding our brand in Trinbago as well as the entire Caribbean as part of the CPL.”
The Trinbago Knight Riders, led by Dwayne Bravo will be hopeful of another successful season. The resemblence with the Kolkata Knight Riders is frighteningly similar now, and they will hope to be as successful as the KKR.