[www.inewsguyan.com] – The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed that it has agreed to omit the words “Trinidad and Tobago” from the Red Steel team name based on a request from the Trinidad Minister of Sport, Anil Roberts, who expressed the view that the use of the country name “infringes on the protocols surrounding the use of the name and the sovereignty of the nation”.
“The CPL would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the Red Steel team is not a franchise that is based in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a team selected from the fantastic talent pool across the country,’’ CPL CEO, Damien O’Donohoe, said in a statement.
‘The team is not restricted to play its home games in Trinidad and Tobago, and ultimately, any decision on where the team is based is dependent on the commitment and support that CPL has already enjoyed with other Governments and owners,” the release added.
The change of name has brought about mixed reaction in Trinidad and Tobago, with Red Steel’s Captain, Dwayne Brave questioning Roberts’ intervention, while some members of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) agreed with the decision to remove the Trinidad and Tobago title from the franchise.
The change leaves the Red Steel as the only CPL franchise without a country name attached to it. Last year’s first season of the competition saw the Jamaica Tallawahs winning the competition.
“The fans in Trinidad and Tobago are second to none. They were fantastic supporters of CPL during its first year, and we look forward to bringing more games to Trinidad and Tobago, no matter where the franchise is based,” the CPL statement said.
