West Indies Breakout T20 League launches with bold vision
The inaugural West Indies Breakout T20 League kicked off today at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, with the President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) emphasizing its transformative importance for the region’s cricketing future.
Dr. Kishore Shallow, President of CWI, described the league as a crucial step toward reshaping talent development in the Caribbean.
“This league is a bold, forward-looking investment in the future of West Indies cricket. The Breakout League is a proving ground for the stars of tomorrow,” said Shallow. “We are ushering in a new generation of T20 cricketers, and today is the first step on that journey.”
Strategic development pathway for emerging players
The Breakout League has been designed exclusively for emerging players and forms a central part of CWI’s long-term talent development strategy. It aims to bridge the gap between youth cricket and professional competition, addressing a longstanding challenge for Caribbean cricketers.
Eligibility criteria ensure a focus on new talent: players must be under 30 years old, have played fewer than 40 List A T20 matches, and fewer than 10 international T20 matches.
Major financial commitment to West Indies cricket
CWI has invested US$1 million to create a high-performance tournament environment, while the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has contributed an additional US$1.3 million to support the initiative.
“This is a significant investment in this format and in the future of West Indies cricket,” said Shallow. “We must stay competitive in today’s game by backing our young talent, creating high-performance environments, and building strong foundations for the future.”
Strong links to CPL and professional progression
Each Breakout League team is affiliated with a CPL franchise, giving players a direct opportunity to showcase their skills and move up into professional cricket.
A total of 84 players will take part in the tournament, which will feature 17 matches over a span of ten days, offering a concentrated platform for emerging talent to shine on a bigger stage.
With the Breakout League now officially underway, West Indies cricket takes a bold step toward securing its future competitiveness on the global stage.
Name of Author: Cricket West Indies
Cricket West Indies (CWI) governs cricket across the West Indies, a confederation of Caribbean countries. Originally established as the West Indies Cricket Board of Control in the 1920s, it became the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in 1996 and was rebranded as Cricket West Indies in May 2017 as part of a restructuring effort.
