West Indies legend Brian Lara believes Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) can justify favouritism in this year's Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament provided the team’s pedigree and cohesiveness stand out among their rivals.

Lara’s views came during the launch of his book on Tuesday and ahead of the Trinbago Knight Riders’ almighty clash with reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Queen's Park Oval on Wednesday.

While noting that the Twin Island Republic’s franchise boasts a deep squad of high-quality players, which makes them favourites, Lara pointed out that it is their performances that will account for whether or not they take home the title this season.

“I think obviously TKR will stand up as favourites every time,” Lara declared.

“When you look at the quality of players in the team, you would think they should go on to win. But again, in the past, we've seen the team that plays better win. It's not how many superstars you have,” he added.

With three wins and one loss so far this campaign, Trinbago Knight Riders currently sit fourth on six points, four points behind leaders Barbados Royals, who have played two games more. St Lucia Kings on eight points and Guyana Amazon Warriors on six points occupy the other playoff positions.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (four points) and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (two points) are fifth and sixth, respectively.

Being the only franchise to win the tournament four times—2015 as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, 2017, 2018, and 2020—Lara is of no doubt that Trinbago Knight Riders can add to their tally.

However, he stressed that it will take more than just talk and quality on paper.

“What we're hoping for with TKR is that togetherness. Individuals may win you a match, but teams win tournaments,” Lara reasoned.

“I'm hoping captain Kieron Pollard will keep the guys together; they work hard, be humble, and get the victory that's necessary,” he noted.

With both the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Guyana Amazon Warriors showing some degree of consistency so far this season, Wednesday’s clash is expected to be a humdinger to kickstart the former’s home leg of fixtures.

England all-rounder Chris Jordan will bolster the Knight Riders bowling attack as he replaces the injured American Ali Khan.

But the Amazon Warriors have also strengthened their bowling attack with the inclusion of Australian leg spinner Nathan Sowter, who temporarily replaces captain Imran Tahir, recovering from an injury.

England international Chris Jordan will join the Trinbago Knight Riders for the remainder of the 2024 season.

The experienced all-rounder will replace USA international Ali Khan who was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.

Jordan previously represented the Knight Riders in the 2019 edition of the CPL, taking seven wickets in five matches.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors have signed leg spinner Nathan Sowter as a temporary replacement for Imran Tahir who is currently recovering from injury and is expected to be unavailable for around 10 days.

Batsman Unmukt Chand and bowler Ali Khan both played starring roles to help the Sunil Narine-led Los Angeles Knight Riders open their 2024 Major League Cricket season with a 12-run win over the Texas Super Kings at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Friday.

Chand, a former India Under-19 Captain, starred with a 45-ball 68 to help lead the Knight Riders to 162-7 from their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Super Kings.

The 31-year-old hit six fours and three sixes and was well supported by Nitish Kumar who hit 26 off 17 balls including a four and two sixes.

Left-arm pacer Zia-ul-Haq took 2-16 from three overs for the Super Kings while Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis took two wickets, each.

The Knight Riders were then able to restrict the Super Kings to 150-8 from their 20 overs thanks to some tight bowling throughout the innings.

Devon Conway led the Texas batting charge with 53 off 39 balls including four fours and two sixes while Calvin Savage made 29* off 18 balls.

Pacer Ali Khan took 4-33 from his four overs while Spencer Johnson bowled brilliantly up front on his way to figures of 2-18 from his four overs.

Sunil Narine was economic as usual with 1-23 from his four overs while Andre Russell went wicketless, conceding 25 in three overs.

Full Scores:

Los Angeles Knight Riders 162-7 off 20 overs (Unmukt Chand 68, Nitish Kumar 26, Zia-ul-Haq 2-16, Aaron Hardie 2-26, Marcus Stoinis 2-37)

Texas Super Kings 150-8 off 20 overs (Devon Conway 53, Calvin Savage 29*, Ali Khan 4-33, Spencer Johnson 2-18)

Two-time champion Chris Gayle and United States star Ali Khan lit up the iconic skyscraper of New York’s Empire State Building, which marked the official launch of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour.

Gayle, who ignited the game’s shortest format before his retirement, had the honour of pulling the lever to light up New York’s most iconic building in the navy and magenta colours of the event. The former Jamaica and West Indies batsman also showcased the trophy which 20 teams will compete for in the June 1-29 tournament across the West Indies and United States.

The event marks the first time an ICC World Cup will be held in United States, including eight matches at the brand new, state-of-the-art modular 34,000 capacity stadium in Nassau County, New York. Newly renovated existing venues Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas and Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, will each host four fixtures.

Co-hosts West Indies have a rich history in T20 cricket, having won the T20 World Cup twice, with popular Caribbean tourist destinations, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago all hosting matches.

The ‘Out of this World’ Trophy Tour will reach 15 countries across four continents as it visits iconic sporting teams and stadia, famous landmarks, and legendary cricketers, while also giving fans the chance to get a glimpse of T20 cricket’s biggest global prize. In addition to visiting all host venues across the West Indies and United States, the Trophy tour will also visit emerging Americas cricket countries Argentina, Brazil, and Canada, enabling new fans to connect with what will be a landmark event in the region.

ICC General Manager, Marketing and Communications, Claire Furlong said the anticipation has been heightened as the historic tournament is now less than three months away.

“As we count down to the World Cup, the Trophy Tour provides fans with the opportunity to be part of the event in locations across the globe. The Tour will travel extensively across the Americas, igniting the passion of both new and existing fans to share in the excitement of T20 cricket's pinnacle global event coming to the region and what better way to kick it off than by lighting up one of the world’s most iconic buildings in one of the world’s most iconic cities,” she said.

“Cricket has more than a billion fans and we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to get up close with the trophy that will be lifted by the winning captain in Barbados on June 29,” Furlong added.

Fawwaz Baksh ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Tournament Director echoed similar sentiments.

“The start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy tour is an emphatic signal to fans worldwide that the World Cup is coming. Throughout its Caribbean leg of the tour, fans can look forward to a plethora of engaging activities, including meet-and-greets with Cricket stars and legends, Caribbean infused cultural entertainment, and the opportunity to see and take pictures of the trophy in person at some of the region’s most iconic locations.

“In addition to fan-facing engagements, the trophy tour will also serve as a platform to leverage the continued growth of Cricket globally and to drive positive change and leave a lasting impact on communities,” Baksh said.

Meanwhile, following huge demand of more than three million ticket applications in the public ballot, additional tickets have been released for 51 of 55 matches, including fixtures where allocations were previously exhausted.

In the West Indies, tickets are now available to matches at all six host locations, including Group Stage, Super 8 and semi-final matches, ensuring as many fans as possible can attend. Fans can create an account and purchase tickets now at tickets.t20worldcup.com.This is the fastest and easiest way for fans to get the tickets they want. All online transactions at tickets.t20worldcup.com are secure. 

Also available now are a range of premium hospitality offerings inclusive of food and beverage packages for all fixtures at Nassau County International Stadium in New York and to all matches at West Indies venues at tickets.t20worldcup.com. 

The Trophy Tour schedule for March and April

March 18 to 20: New York, USA 

March 21 to 23: Houston, Grand Prairie and Dallas, USA 

March 26 to 27: Buenos Aires, Argentina 

March 28 to 29: Sao Paulo, Brazil 

April 3 to 4: Jamaica 

April 13 to 14: Barbados 

April 17 to 18: Antigua and Barbuda 

April 19 to 20: Saint Lucia