Barbados is preparing to celebrate 60 years of national independence this year, and the island nation is marking the milestone with a landmark announcement that unites its beloved cricketing heritage with an innovative new model of sports collaboration. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the Government of Barbados and Royals Sports Group (RSG) unveiled plans to relaunch the iconic Barbados Tridents franchise in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), anchored by a groundbreaking three-year public-private partnership dubbed ‘One Barbados’.
After five years competing under the name Barbados Royals, the franchise is returning to its historic identity and national color scheme, complete with a newly redesigned matchday jersey that honors the island nation’s deep roots in international cricket and widespread national pride for the sport. This partnership marks what leaders say is the first public-private co-investment model of its kind in elite global franchise cricket, designed to position the relaunched Tridents as a year-round national asset rather than just a seasonal sporting franchise.
Speaking at the official announcement, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley framed the relaunch as a fitting celebration of Barbados’ six decades as an independent nation. ‘As Barbados marks its 60th year of Independence, the One Barbados partnership encapsulates everything that we, as a young nation have accomplished thus far,’ Mottley said. ‘The return to the Barbados Tridents reflects our confidence, our pride and our ambition as a nation, as we begin to chart the path towards our next 60 years. Cricket has long been a core pillar of our national identity and self-determination. As such, it is incredibly fitting that through this partnership, we will see ourselves represented, in our national colours, with a name that speaks to who we are.’
Mottley emphasized that the partnership’s core goal is to embed the Barbados Tridents at the center of national life, from inspiring youth athletes to boosting Barbados’ global profile, while demonstrating how professional sport can advance broader national priorities. She welcomed the innovative collaboration and RSG’s renewed commitment to the island nation and its people.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Government of Barbados will become a minority co-investor in the franchise, pending completion of required regulatory approvals. Majority ownership and day-to-day management of the team will remain under the control of RSG, one of the world’s leading multi-team sports ownership platforms. This strategic structure is designed to align the government’s public national goals with RSG’s private-sector expertise in elite sports management, while locking in long-term stability for the franchise that will deliver benefits across Barbados year-round, not just during the CPL tournament season.
Manoj Badale, Lead Owner of Royals Sports Group, reaffirmed the organization’s long-term commitment to Barbados, noting that the new partnership extends beyond cricket to support the island’s broader goals across tourism, investment and innovation. ‘One Barbados is a landmark partnership and, we believe, a first-of-its-kind public–private collaboration in elite franchise cricket. It reflects our long-term belief in Barbados – not only as a cricketing powerhouse, but as a nation with deep global relevance across sport, tourism, investment and innovation,’ Badale said.
Relaunching the franchise under its original Tridents name and national identity is a powerful statement of the partnership’s shared ambition, Badale added, with the clear goal of delivering sustained on-field success, including bringing both men’s and women’s CPL titles to Barbados.
Notably, the relaunched franchise will retain RSG’s longstanding association with the color pink, which originated from the group’s charitable work supporting cancer awareness and women’s empowerment. As part of the One Barbados initiative, the Tridents will host an annual dedicated charity match during each CPL season to raise funds for local Barbadian charitable causes, reinforcing the team’s commitment to creating social impact alongside on-field competition.
For cricket fans across the Caribbean and beyond, the return of the Barbados Tridents marks not just a rebrand, but a new experiment in how governments and private sports organizations can collaborate to leverage sport for national pride and public good, as Barbados enters its seventh decade of independence.