West Indies Breakout League: CWI and CPL Unite for New T20 Tournament in Caribbean

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have joined forces to launch the inaugural West Indies Breakout League, a new T20 tournament designed to unearth and develop emerging cricketing talent across the Caribbean.

Scheduled to take place from April 25 to May 10, 2025, the competition will feature six teams and 17 matches, all hosted at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

The participating teams — Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Rainforest Rangers, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, Trinidad & Tobago Legions, and Windward Islands Infernos — will represent their respective territorial boards and maintain close affiliations with CPL franchises. To ensure a focus on player development, eligibility is restricted to those under 30-years-old at the start of the tournament, with limited professional experience — fewer than 40 List A T20 matches and fewer than ten T20 Internationals.

Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, hailed the initiative as a crucial step in strengthening the region’s T20 talent pipeline. “This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the next wave of players to get the game time they need to push through to the next level and add depth in our T20 talent pool. We are delighted to collaborate with the CPL on this initiative, which promises to provide a strong platform for up-and-coming talent in the West Indies.”

Republic Bank CPL CEO Pete Russell echoed this enthusiasm, emphasising the league’s significance in shaping the future of West Indies cricket. “We are excited to join forces with Cricket West Indies to deliver a world-class and sustainable tournament. This initiative is not only an investment in the future of West Indies cricket but also a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to witness exceptional talent and great cricket.”

The tournament will kick off on April 25 with Guyana Rainforest Rangers facing Windward Islands Infernos at 2 p.m., followed by a match between Trinidad & Tobago Legions and Barbados Pelicans at 7 p.m. The action continues on April 26 with Jamaica Titans taking on Leeward Islands Thunder at 2 p.m. before the Legions meet the Rainforest Rangers later that evening. After a short break, the competition resumes on April 29, where the Titans battle the Rangers at 2 p.m., and the Pelicans take on the Infernos at 7 p.m. On April 30, the Legions will face the Titans in the afternoon, while the Pelicans go head-to-head with the Thunder under the lights.

The tournament’s latter stages will see the Titans clash with the Pelicans on May 2 at 2 p.m., followed by a showdown between the Thunder and the Legions at 7 p.m. On May 4, the Infernos take on the Legions in the afternoon, while the Rainforest Rangers meet the Thunder in the evening. The final round-robin matches will take place on May 6 and 7, with key matchups including the Pelicans versus the Rangers and the Titans against the Infernos. The last group stage fixture will feature the Thunder against the Infernos on May 7 at 7 p.m. The top three teams will then battle for the title, with a playoff between the second and third-placed teams on May 9, before the winner meets the first-place team in the final on May 10 at 7 p.m.