AUGUST 4, 2013 Sport 5 SUNDAY SUN. 5B FLAG PARTY: Supporters cheering on Barbados Tridents during their victory against Antigua Hawksbills CPL something at Kensington Oval on Thursday night. (Picture by to shout about Kenmore Bynoe.) by GARTH WATTLEY party in a way he has rarely done in the Caribbean financial means by which to better fund its own in recent years. development programmes. IT WAS an opening night to savour for Ajmal Khan, Put that together with the attractive runs from The WICB directors have put great faith in the new Damien O’Donohoe, Denis O’Brien and Dave Cameron. Tridents’ Shoaib Malik, St Lucia Zouks’ Andre Fletcher entity to deliver. That faith was placed in Khan and his The founder of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and Darren Sammy, and Pollard’s all-round show, and Verus International company, with whom past its chief executive officer, the Digicel chairman, and the early acts of the CPL have shown the makings of a president Julian Hunte signed the deal last year. the West Indies Cricket Board president saw their big good production – established stars shining, and a new At one tournament event in May, Khan, credited as project take off under the bright lights at Kensington talent striding on stage. the founder of the CPL, stressed that success of the Oval in just the manner desired. The stakeholders will be desperate for the show to venture would be based on partnerships. He said There was drama from ball one, Albie Morkel of the get the thumbs-up from spectators and TV viewers the CPL was not going to be a one-man show. St Lucia Zouks dismissing Dwayne Smith of the home alike. Based on the IPL model, the CPL is supposed to He certainly was right. team, Barbados Tridents. be the money-spinner for Caribbean cricket that the In June, a power shift occurred in the CPL when The game’s final act, Tridents captain Kieron incarcerated Allen Stanford’s 20/20 venture was not. telecommunications outfit Digicel became the majority Pollard taking a return catch to get rid of Garey It is the venture the West Indies board hopes will put shareholder. Here is how Khan put it then: “Since we Mathurin, was also full of import. As he threw the ball money in the pockets of its players the way the launched the Caribbean Premier League in into the air on completion of the catch and the win, a board currently cannot; and into its own hardly partnership with the WICB, we have been focused on full house erupted, joining him in celebration. brimming coffers. attracting major strategic partners who will help build One of the sub-plots to that first match was the fact a world-class tournament that stimulates the local that Pollard, a Trinidadian, had been the choice to lead Fresh boost economies of the Caribbean. the Barbados franchise in preference to hometown “I am delighted that my close partners at Digicel favourite Smith; a decision that even prompted a street A bright and prosperous CPL can also distract have shared so passionately the vision I have for the protest. So Pollard leading his side to the first win of for at least a month from the grim times still development of cricket and the unequalled opportunity the CPL and to do so after being one of the chief engulfing the international side. The high of last that is provided by this tournament for the entire contributors with bat, ball and in the field, was in itself year’s World Twenty20 triumph has worn off now. Caribbean region. I look forward to working with the a public relations triumph. West Indies cricket is in search of a fresh boost, for the WICB and Digicel to accomplish these goals." The following night’s win for Amazon Warriors at just concluded season of international cricket has not Such generosity from Khan to allow his baby, so to their Guyana home base in Providence was another proved to be one of good cheer. speak, to be taken over is curious and has not to this decent spectacle with the right outcome for the locals. While the year began with the predictable sweeps of point been publicly explained. But corporate interest in Here again, the CPL leaders had reason to smile with rehabilitating Zimbabwe in their Test and ODI series, the venture has grown somewhat. deep and real satisfaction. the season at home has ended with solid beatings by Guyana-based New GPC’s Limacol brand is now India and Sri Lanka that eliminated West Indies from the title sponsor of the league. New GPC also owns Star of the night the final of the tri-nation ODI series, and dominance Amazon Warriors and other franchises have by Pakistan 3-1 in another one-day series; to add to the also been bought. Though he was on the losing side with the Trinidad injury, a 2-0 shutout in the T20s followed. Interests from Pakistan control the St Lucia Zouks. and Tobago Red Steel, Nicolas Pooran, only 17, and the There was no consolation at the end of six hectic That deal was completed only just before the baby of this series, was the star of the night, although months that also included Duckworth-Lewis tournament began. Four days earlier, it was announced not Player Of The Match. elimination at the group stage from the that Europe-based mobile-network operator With just four 50-over games for Trinidad and Champions Trophy. Lycamobile had purchased the Red Steel franchise. Tobago this year to recommend him, the unheralded Along, however, has come the CPL. Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg has been sold an left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman gave momentum From a playing standpoint, it at least offers the equity stake in the Barbados Tridents. and hope to a side struggling for both when he chance over time for regional players to pick up some However, no buyers have as yet been announced for went to the crease. He landed six sixes for Trinidad, finer points from the international members of their the Antigua and Jamaica teams. That must make the without a slog. franchises. That is one of coach Ottis Gibson’s big CPL principals a tad uneasy. It was an innings that brought genuine admiration hopes. He would be glad if players coming to him in They really need the product – the cricket – to sell from seasoned watchers. Even the Guyanese fans future don’t struggle so mightily to turn over the strike itself for this Caribbean party to go the distance. would have enjoyed the exhibition of clean, calm and are better able to play smarter in tight situations. So far, the signs are promising. strokeplay by a mere boy. Their team still won, and However, the CPL, T20 cricket that it is, will not in their captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, with his late itself develop the West Indies Test match stars •Garth Wattley is cricket correspondent flurry at the end of his team’s innings, came to the of the future. It can, however, give the board the at the Trinidad Express..