KINGSTON, Jamaica — After a two-year absence from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Jamaica’s reintroduced T20 franchise has officially received its new identity: the Jamaica Kingsmen. The long-awaited brand name was unveiled Tuesday during a formal press conference held at Kingston’s Jamaica Pegasus, an event that capped off months of transition and planning for the franchise’s return to regional cricket.
As first broken by the Jamaica Observer, the new ownership collective, Kingsmen Sports Enterprise, initially weighed retaining the team’s former moniker, Jamaica Tallawahs, to lean into existing fan recognition. But after careful deliberation, franchise owner Fawad Sarwar confirmed that the Kingsmen title emerged as the unanimous top pick, earning full formal endorsement from both CPL governing body and Jamaican national government officials.
In a surprise announcement that drew broad enthusiasm from attendees, Sarwar also disclosed that the ownership group will launch a new women’s franchise, set to compete in a four-team domestic competition scheduled for this summer. The expansion marks a notable step forward for growing women’s cricket across the Caribbean region.
Two of Jamaica’s top cabinet members — Sports Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange and Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett — were on hand for the announcement, reaffirming the Jamaican government’s commitment to long-term support for the reintroduced franchise. Beyond boosting elite cricket development in the country, officials framed the team’s return as a major economic driver, expected to draw cricket tourism to the island and create new local opportunities around the sport.
The men’s CPL tournament is scheduled to kick off in August, and the Jamaica Observer has confirmed that Kingston’s iconic Sabina Park will play host to four regular-season matches during the upcoming season. The last time CPL matches were hosted on Jamaican soil was 2019, before the franchise was pulled from the league circuit.
The path to Jamaica’s return followed a period of franchise upheaval: former owner Kris Persaud sold the team rights back to CPL organizers several years ago, citing crippling financial challenges that stemmed in large part from a lack of government support at the time. That shift cleared the way for new ownership to step in and rebuild the franchise for a 2024 comeback, with government backing that promises a more stable foundation for the team’s future.