St. Johns, Antigua -- Antigua and Barbuda have formally reentered the Caribbean Premier League with the Falcon franchise, launched this evening (Feb. 20) at a ceremony held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, owned by the WORLDWIDE Sports Management Group and backed by Parimatch, a global gaming platform, mark the CPL's return to the island after a lengthy absence following the relocation of the then Hawksbills franchise to St. Kitts and Nevis.
Krishna (Kris) Persaud, Founder and President of WORLDWIDE Sports Management Group, expressed delight in welcoming the team officially to the regional event, affirming their readiness to compete.
"The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons will bring a unique energy and vitality to the Republic Bank CPL," Persaud said. "We are ready to fly high and conquer what is before us. We want to establish a winner’s culture within the team and also a culture of winning and success off the field – among every individual associated with this franchise and the amazing fans we will have at our special home base at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in lovely Antigua.”
Persaud aims to establish a successful franchise in the territory, buoyed by government support that facilitated the team's relocation to Antigua and Barbuda, emphasizing a determination to succeed.
“What you are witnessing today as we unveil the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, is something truly special and I want to thank the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, who have worked closely with us to bring the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons to life. Antigua is our home … this country has a rich cricket history and the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons will create more great history on these shores. It is now time for the Falcons to fly high!”
This year’s tournament kicks off on August 28 and runs through to October 6, with games returning to Antigua for the first time in a decade. Guyana will host the finals for the third consecutive year, concluding its three-year agreement to stage the mega event.
Jeff Miller, CEO and General Manager of the Franchise said: “Welcome back Antigua & Barbuda! This is where the ‘party’ in cricket started, and we are delighted to be back for this exciting event. We plan to have a full house for every match with our Antigua & Barbuda Falcons on show. This is what we have been waiting for. It will be amazing to see the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium packed and our lovely super fans enjoying the action and the atmosphere, as well as seeing great cricket on the field, the non-stop party in the stands and all the festivities that come with cricket in the West Indies.”
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