The Caribbean’s marquee T20 league is back with a wider footprint, deeper squads, and a packed calendar across seven grounds. CPL 2025 features six franchises—Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Trinbago Knight Riders, Saint Lucia Kings, Barbados Royals, and Guyana Amazon Warriors—each blending international heavy-hitters with local match-winners. The full schedule dropped on March 24, 2025, and early fixtures have already hinted at a season built on pace, power, and sharp spin.
Organizers have kept the tried-and-tested format: a double round-robin through the league phase, followed by the Page playoff system—Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final. With two venues in Trinidad and a spread across Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis, home legs and traveling support will add bite to rivalry games.
Teams and squads at a glance
Every roster has a clear identity. Some look built for early powerplay dominance; others are stocked for spin-heavy middle overs or death-overs control. Here’s how the squads stack up, with the most notable names and depth pieces that could swing games.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
- Imad Wasim, Shakib Al Hasan, Fabian Allen, Naveen-ul-Haq, Obed McCoy, Justin Greaves, Bevon Jacobs, Jayden Seales, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Rahkeem Cornwall, Odean Smith, Jewel Andrew, Shamar Springer, Amir Jangoo, Karima Gore, Kevin Wickham, Joshua James
Why they matter: Antigua’s second season since relocating has a distinct all-rounder core. Shakib and Imad give left-arm control, batting depth, and savvy in the middle overs. Pace variety comes from McCoy’s angles and Seales’ new-ball skill. Cornwall and Allen add Caribbean power with the bat.
Barbados Royals
- Rovman Powell (C), Brandon King, Sherfane Rutherford, Quinton de Kock, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Jomel Warrican, Kadeem Alleyne, Shaqkere Parris, Kofi James, Nyeem Young, Rivaldo Clarke, Zishan Motara, Johann Layne, Ramon Simmonds
Why they matter: Powell’s hitting and leadership shape a side designed to chase big scores. De Kock brings top-order tempo and smarts behind the stumps. Rutherford is the finisher-in-chief, while Mujeeb’s powerplay spin and Omarzai’s utility make this a balanced unit. Local pace from Simmonds and Layne adds punch.
Guyana Amazon Warriors
- Imran Tahir (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Glenn Phillips, Gudakesh Motie, Moeen Ali, Shamar Joseph, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Shamarh Brooks, Kemol Savory, Hassan Khan, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Quentin Sampson, Riyad Latif
Why they matter: This is a playoff-caliber spine. Tahir’s leadership and wicket-taking threat, Motie’s left-arm guile, and Shamar Joseph’s pace make the attack versatile. With Hope and Phillips, the top and middle can shift gears, and Shepherd-Pretorius at the death is a lot of power in a short space.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
- Jason Holder (C), Kyle Mayers, Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Corbin Bosch, Naseem Shah, Waqar Salamkheil, Mohammad Rizwan, Andre Fletcher, Mikyle Louis, Alick Athanaze, Mohammad Nawaz, Navin Bidaisee, Dominic Drakes, Abbas Afridi, Ashmeed Nedd, Jomel Warrican, Eathan Bosch, Ramon Simmonds
Why they matter: This group can outgun you or outbowl you. Holder’s calm at the toss, Mayers’ explosive starts, and Rizwan’s consistency give the batting a stable top. With Naseem and Farooqi with the new ball, plus Salamkheil and Nawaz for spin, they can control phases. Drakes and Bosch cover pace and lower-order hitting.
Saint Lucia Kings and Trinbago Knight Riders
Both franchises have confirmed cores, with full lists released closer to the first ball. Saint Lucia’s recent squads have leaned on seamers who hit the deck at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, plus versatile top-order options. Trinbago, historically, blend street-smart veterans with shot-makers and wrist-spin. Keep an eye on whether they double down on experience or hand the keys to younger local guns this season.
Early signs from the first fixtures: in Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, the Patriots chose to field; in St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Warriors also chased; and Barbados Royals vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons is a headliner for power-hitting. Captains appear happy to chase, trusting evening conditions and data around evolving targets.
Venues, schedule and what to expect
Seven grounds will host this season’s action, including two in Trinidad to cap off key legs and the playoffs. Here’s the map and what each venue tends to offer.
- Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda – Usually fair for bat and ball. New-ball movement early; spinners come in later. Home to the Falcons’ loudest nights.
- Kensington Oval, Barbados – Bounce and pace when it’s fresh, then truer as lights settle. Shot-makers love square boundaries; seamers get value if they hit the deck.
- Providence Stadium, Guyana – Slower surface at times, a paradise for smart spin. Batters who sweep and rotate thrive; finishers who target the straight boundary can flip games late.
- Warner Park, St Kitts and Nevis – Shorter boundaries make powerplay momentum key. Get ahead early, and you’re halfway there.
- Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia – Often skiddy under lights. Hard lengths work, but wrist-spin can turn the middle overs.
- Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago – Big matches, big pressure. The surface generally holds true; chasing teams back themselves if wickets are in hand.
- Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago – Heritage venue with carry for quicks. Smart captains rotate seam and spin to stay ahead of the rate.
The league phase runs across these stops before the Page playoffs decide the finalists. Expect travel legs to shape selection: some teams will load up on spin in Guyana and Saint Lucia, then flip to extra pace in Barbados and Trinidad. That flexibility—who sits, who starts, who bowls the 16th and 19th overs—often separates the contenders from the rest.
Players to watch
- Quinton de Kock (Barbados Royals): Already in the runs with a composed 57 off 45, he sets the tempo and reads the chase as well as anyone in T20.
- Sherfane Rutherford (Barbados Royals): High-impact finisher who targets the arc from midwicket to long-on. Kingsize hitter on slow tracks too.
- Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana Amazon Warriors): Middle-overs accelerator; if he faces 30 balls, you usually lose 50–60 runs in a hurry.
- Imran Tahir and Gudakesh Motie (Guyana Amazon Warriors): Leg-spin and left-arm orthodox in tandem—wickets, control, and pressure.
- Jayden Seales (Antigua and Barbuda Falcons): New-ball threat with figures like 2/15 in four overs reminding everyone he can swing games early.
- Dwaine Pretorius (Guyana Amazon Warriors): Can hit the deck and nail yorkers; 3/43 in four points to his wicket-taking appetite even in high-scoring games.
- Shakib Al Hasan and Imad Wasim (Antigua and Barbuda Falcons): Two high-IQ left-arm all-rounders who control the middle and bat deep. That’s a luxury in T20.
- Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Mohammad Rizwan (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots): Leadership, powerplay punch, and reliability. A trio built for pressure nights.
Tactical threads to follow
- The chase trend: Early captains are choosing to field. In Caribbean nights, targets can look different under lights, and teams with set finishers and batting depth will back themselves.
- Spin value: Providence and Saint Lucia will reward teams that can attack with spin in the middle—think Motie, Tahir, Mujeeb, Shakib, Imad. Expect four overs of high-risk, high-reward match-ups each innings.
- Pace batteries: Patriots and Warriors bring serious new-ball heat. On faster decks in Barbados and Trinidad, a powerplay collapse can decide a game inside 30 balls.
- Local surge: Players like Nyeem Young, Ramon Simmonds, Jediah Blades, and Kevlon Anderson could force selection calls. One breakout over—think a 20th over with two yorkers and a run-out—can tilt an entire leg of the tournament.
Rivalries and the Bravo thread
TKR’s culture—shaped over years by the Bravo family’s imprint—still looms over the league: swagger, smarts, and an appetite for squeeze overs. That energy often spills into match-ups with Barbados and Guyana, where fine margins—one misfield, one slower ball—swing tight chases. Expect those nights to be loud and strategic.
What’s new, what’s next
Antigua and Barbuda’s franchise, now firmly embedded after its recent move, adds a fresh fan heartbeat to the schedule. Crowds there have embraced the home side’s all-rounder-heavy build. And with two venues in Trinidad set to host key late-season games, the finishing stretch should feel familiar: big crowds, sharp captaincy, and bowling changes under pressure.
If you’re scanning for early table-setters, look for teams that nail three basics: powerplay discipline with the ball, middle-overs run rate above 8 while losing no more than two wickets, and lower-order strike rates north of 160 in the last five. The squads listed here have the personnel to hit those marks. Now it’s about selection nerve, reading the surface in real time, and holding catches when it gets loud.
Bookmark the marquee clashes already highlighted by organizers—Patriots vs Warriors and Royals vs Falcons among them—and track how captains manage resources. The Caribbean Premier League has always been a showcase for local flair meeting global experience. This season, the blend looks sharper, the benches deeper, and the margin for error even thinner.
