CPL Franchise History: Renames, Replacements & New Teams
The Caribbean Premier League has run since 2013, and in that time its franchise landscape has shifted more than most fans realize. Some teams have simply changed their name while staying the same franchise under the same ownership. Others have folded entirely, making way for a completely new team to take their city or island’s spot in the tournament.
And a few slots have gone through both — a closure, a gap of several years, and then a fresh franchise stepping in under new ownership. Here’s how it all breaks down.
Genuine Name Changes
These are cases where the same franchise, same ownership group, and same core fan base simply competed under a different name at different points:
- Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel → Trinbago Knight Riders (2016 rebrand, aligning with Knight Riders’ global franchise network)
- Barbados Tridents → Barbados Royals (2021) → back to Barbados Tridents (2026 revert)
- St Lucia Zouks → Saint Lucia Kings (2021)
Unchanged Names:
- Guyana Amazon Warriors
- St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
Folded Franchises Replaced by New Teams
These are cases where one franchise shut down and a different franchise, often under entirely new ownership, was later awarded the vacant slot:
Antigua Hawksbills (2013–2014) → replaced by St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (2015)
Antigua Hawkbills are one of CPL’s six original franchises, but managed only 3 wins in 16 matches across two seasons before folding. Their slot was handed to the newly formed St Kitts & Nevis Patriots from 2015 onward.
Jamaica Tallawahs (2013–2023, defunct) → replaced by Antigua & Barbuda Falcons (2024)
JT are one of CPL’s most successful early franchises, winning titles in 2013, 2016, and 2022, before its owners cited financial sustainability issues and the team was disbanded.
The vacant slot was filled in 2024 by the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, a brand-new franchise unrelated to the earlier Hawksbills, despite both being based in Antigua.
Brand-New Franchises
Jamaica Kingsmen
Team JK debuted in CPL 2026. This marked Jamaica’s return to the tournament after a three-year absence. Owned by Pakistani businessman Fawad Sarwar (who also owns PSL’s Hyderabad Kingsmen), the team is entirely separate from the old Tallawahs, both in ownership and identity, despite representing the same island.
Current CPL 2026 Teams (7 total):
- Trinbago Knight Riders
- Guyana Amazon Warriors
- Barbados Tridents
- Saint Lucia Kings
- St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
- Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
- Jamaica Kingsmen
