The Caribbean Premier League (CPL), one of the world’s most high-profile Twenty20 franchise cricket competitions, is preparing for its 2025 summer edition with a major roster shake-up, and the Jamaica Observer can exclusively confirm that two of Jamaica’s biggest cricket stars, Andre Russell and Rovman Powell, have been locked in as the first selections for the expansion franchise Jamaica Kingsmen.
Though an official full squad announcement will not be made until next Friday, multiple insiders have confirmed to the Observer that the two Jamaican internationals, who are currently competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Kolkata Knight Riders, were the top two draft picks secured by the new franchise owners, Kingsmen Sports Enterprise.
For Russell, the move marks a homecoming to Jamaican-based CPL cricket after a four-year tenure with the defending CPL champions Trinbago Knight Riders. The hard-hitting all-rounder spent eight seasons with the now-disbanded Jamaica Tallawahs, leading the franchise to two title victories in 2013 and 2016, making his return to a Jamaican franchise a full-circle moment for the fan favorite.
Powell, meanwhile, is coming off a successful stint with the Barbados Royals, where he also claimed two championship titles. After departing the Jamaican franchise system in 2023, the dynamic all-rounder will not only rejoin a Jamaican side but will also take up the mantle of captain for the Kingsmen in their debut season.
The opportunity to secure two of Jamaica’s top talents came via special draft rules created for the expansion franchise. The Kingsmen were granted the unique privilege of selecting their first three players exclusively from the pool of Jamaican cricketers, with restrictions limiting each existing CPL franchise to only one of their eligible Jamaican players being poached, and no right-to-match options for existing teams to retain the players.
Sources also confirm that Jamaican all-rounder Fabian Allen is set to be the expansion team’s third unrestricted pick. The special selection rule prevented the Kingsmen from luring both Powell and explosive opening batsman Brandon King away from Barbados Royals, as the existing franchise was only eligible to lose one of their contracted Jamaican players in the expansion draft. Team leadership ultimately opted to prioritize Powell’s captaincy experience over adding King to the roster.
When completed, the Kingsmen’s 17-player full squad will feature nine senior West Indian international players, five import cricketers from overseas cricket boards, and three emerging talents who competed in last year’s West Indies Breakout League.
As the debut expansion franchise, the Jamaica Kingsmen will kick off the entire 2025 CPL season on August 7, when they face off against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in St Vincent. Following their opening match, the team will return to Jamaica to play four home matches at Kingston’s iconic Sabina Park between August 11 and 18, giving local fans the chance to watch their homegrown stars compete on familiar turf.