The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 is slated to be held solely in Trinidad and Tobago. The tournament will be held in accordance with strict COVID-19 measures, authorities in the twin-island republic announced on Thursday.
A Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs media release stated, “At today’s meeting the Cabinet agreed to the hosting of the Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament in Trinidad over the period August 18, 2020 to September 12, 2020 with strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines.”
In early June, CPL said in its proposal to the T&T authorities that it wanted to host the entire tournament, comprising 34 matches, at Trinidad’s two main grounds, the Queen’s Park Oval and the Brian Lara Academy.
The six franchises have already drafted their quota of players for the tournament. Barbados Tridents are the defending champions.
On Thursday afternoon, T&T Minister of Sport Shamfa Cudjoe updated the media on plans for the event.
“Before players and officials who are involved in the tournament fly in, they will have to do a COVID-19 test in their country of origin. When they arrive here in Trinidad, they will have to do another COVID-19 test.
“We will continue to monitor the situation concerning COVID-19 and to be on top of it, as it is a rolling situation and requires different rules and regulations as time goes on.”
“They (the players) will then go into self-isolation at the Hilton Hotel for seven days. After the seven days they will be tested again and once they continue to show negative, they will be able to go into small groups to train. After another seven days, which makes it 14, they will then get another test, and once negative, they can join their team for training and playing. We have put the dates from August 18 to September 12 and this will allow for the players to come in and have ample time to go into quarantine.”
“The players and officials will be here (Hilton Hotel) for a total of 41 days and we must enjoy the economic activity that this brings. This is a good opportunity to get sports going again in the region.”
“The benefits that will come to us from this investment will be getting an opportunity to market the destination. So those involved in the tourism sector must get ready to sell, sell, sell. We must sell T&T as a sports tourism destination as well as a tourism destination as a whole and this provides that opportunity.”
“Once we bring off this tournament successfully and I am sure we will, then it will be a lesson for us in hosting other games.”
