Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe says the primary goal of the upcoming regional T20 tournament is to provide a platform for emerging players who often miss out on opportunities in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The CPL, which began in 2013, implemented a rule over the years that required each franchise to play two emerging Under-23 players for a combined total of five matches.
Bascombe said it is with that in mind that this new tournament was conceptualized. This, as it will not only help bridge the gap for players who fall outside that framework but also unearth new talent while addressing the need for a broader talent pipeline in regional T20 cricket.
“The cry has been that since the (2013 inception of the) Caribbean T20 there hasn’t been a platform for emerging T20 players,” Bascombe explained during a recent appearance on the Mason and Guest Show.
“It’s pretty much a case of whether you’re good enough to make it into a CPL franchise, in which case then you have to be good enough to consistently make it into the final XI to be able to really play consistent T20 regionally,” he reasoned.
The new regional T20 tournament, tentatively scheduled for April 18 to May 11, aims to target youth players under 23, while also offering opportunities to those slightly older who have yet to break into international cricket.
He added that the tournament’s design reflects the fact that players in their late 20s still have the potential for lengthy careers, particularly with the T20 World Cup being played every two years.
“The aim of this tournament is to target those players who are still emerging and those players coming through who are beyond that age of 23. But we’re still working out the actual parameters that qualify players,” he said.
“Players who have extensive international experience will not qualify to play. We’ve discussed something around less than ten T20 internationals,” Bascombe noted.
That said, Bascombe pointed out that in order to manage costs, the inaugural edition will be held in a single country, with Trinidad and Tobago as the preferred host.
“The intention is for us to make that tournament the highest standard possible. We want to have it broadcast, and as soon as you start to move countries, then the cost of the tournament rises exponentially because it is not only the players you have to transport, but the TV equipment, TV crew, and so on,” Bascombe stated.
He continued: “So, we are looking to have it in one country. At this point, we are looking at Trinidad just because of the time that we have and the support we are accustomed to getting out of Trinidad.
“But the plan is for that tournament to move around the region to get them exposed to different conditions as well as giving the public in each of the territories an opportunity to actually come out and see the inspiring T20 players ply their trade.”