Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has praised the impact the Caribbean Premier League is having on the island, after Port-of-Spain hosted a hugely successful Finals week.
The iconic Queen’s Park Oval was packed to capacity throughout the closing stages in July as the home franchise, Red Steel, romped to their first CPL title defeating the Barbados Tridents by 20 runs.
"A lot more people are watching cricket on the islands. It's marvellous" - T&T PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar
“It’s always wonderful to see the red, white and black be flown very high and for the CPL franchise. I think the CPL has done so much for cricket in reinvigorating cricket and bringing many more young persons into the cricket,” said Mrs Persad-Bissessar.
“Because of the CPL a lot more people are watching cricket on the islands. It’s marvellous.”
While it was the Red Steel who triumphed in the tournament, the Prime Minister was keen to stress that the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ was having many other positive effects on the whole of the Caribbean region.
“What is very exciting is that whoever wins, the region wins and I think that is a fantastic thing because we see teams comprised of nationals from throughout the Caribbean and outside of the Caribbean. So this CPL has the potential to be seen internationally and not just regionally.”
"Shah Rukh Khan... has given us a greater international image" - Mrs Persad-Bissessar
The Red Steel have been at the forefront of this international exposure, after receiving investment from Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan, which Mrs Persad-Bissessar said had “also bought a great merit and interest to the game”.
She added: “I think Shah Rukh Khan endorsing the T&T Red Steel and the CPL as a whole has given us a greater international image in that regard.”
The exposure of the tournament reached record levels, with 300,000 fans attending games while 93 million people watched the competition on TV around the globe.
With such interest in the six week extravaganza Trinidad remain keen on hosting the Finals for a second consecutive season.
“For the organisers and the teams we look forward to them returning to Trinidad next year,” said Mrs Persad-Bissessar.
“I do hope the finals for the CPL will be back in Trinidad for next year.”
