Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:37 AM
Impressive Opening Ceremony signals start to inaugural LCPL
Excitement, passion, colour and the cricketing excellence of the Caribbean was on show last evening in the Land of the ‘Flying Fish’, Barbados, when the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 Tournament got off to an exhilarating at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.
Sir Garfield Sobers joined by LCPL top brass just after unveiling the official Limacol CPL ‘Roots’ Trophy.
Sir Garfield Sobers, arguably the greatest cricketer ever, was joined by Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, former Jamaica Prime Minister The Right Honourable PJ Patterson, Chairman of the LCPL Cricket Committee, LCPL CEO Damien O’Donohoe, Denis O’Brien, Chairman of Digicel, the tournament’s strategic partner and West Indies Cricket Board President Dave Cameron – as he officially declared the tournament open.
Kensington Oval, long considered “the Mecca” of cricket in the region, was transformed into an array of carnival colour and flamboyance, as 450 costumed junior revelers parade alongside 90 school children adorned in the kits of the six franchise teams. They were joined by a host of adult revelers as they all portrayed the Carnival atmosphere that the Limacol Caribbean Premier League will be transmitting across the globe in the coming weeks.
Jamaican Reggae superstar Konshens and Trinidadian Soca artiste KES added energy as they delivered some of their biggest hits, before combining to perform the LCPL official anthem “How We Play”.
Barbadian soca diva Allison Hinds – one of the most popular soca singers in the world and known as the Queen of Soca – added her special flavour to the evening when she took to the stage to perform her repertoire of hit songs.
The highlight of the Opening Ceremony was the unveiling of the official Limacol CPL ‘Roots’ Trophy which was done amidst an electrifying fireworks display.
LCPL CEO Damien O’Donohoe: “The Limacol CPL is an historic undertaking, the likes of which the Caribbean has never seen before and as a result, we have pulled out all the stops to ensure the opening ceremony is a memorable one,” O’Donohoe said. “The LCPL will boast some of the finest players in international cricket and we thought it fitting to reflect this level of excellence in the ceremony, while also displaying the passion and the energy synonymous with Caribbean cricket.”
Sir Garry, the legendary former West Indies all-rounder and captain, said he was thrilled to be a part of history again.
“The Caribbean has been waiting for a tournament like this for a long time and I am pleased to see it finally come on stream in such a major way,” said Sir Garry, Barbados’ only living National Hero.
“I think the organisers must be commended for this venture and for putting the Caribbean on par with the international cricket community, with a Twenty20 tournament of this calibre.”
Six franchises – Antigua & Barbuda Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana’s Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Zouks and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel – will contest 24 matches across the six venues.
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