Trinbago Knight Riders retain core squad for CPL 2026 season

Defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders hold onto key players including Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, and Akeal Hosein for CPL 2026.

Jamaica Kingsmen build squad with draft picks Andre Russell, who secured the CPL title with Knight Riders in the previous season, will join Jamaica Kingsmen for CPL 2026 alongside fellow Jamaican batter Rovman Powell. The new franchise gained priority access to sign top local talent during the draft. Powell takes over as captain after leading Jamaica to victory in 2022, when the side was known as Jamaica Tallawahs. Additionally, the team acquired 19-year-old left-arm wristspinner Vitel Lawes, who is set to make his CPL debut after impressing at the Under-19 World Cup earlier in the year. ## Vitel Lawes joins Kingsmen after Under-19 success Vitel Lawes claimed ten wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 4.93 during the Under-19 World Cup, making him the leading wicket-taker for West Indies in the competition. His arrival provides Kingsmen with a fresh bowling option in their attack. The franchise views him as a promising debutant for the upcoming season. Lawes’ signing adds depth to a team aiming to compete at the highest level. ## Multiple franchises exercise retention options Gudakesh Motie moved from Guyana Amazon Warriors to Barbados Tridents, bringing his left-arm spin expertise to the new side. Amazon Warriors chose to keep Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Joseph, and Quentin Sampson through retention options. Tridents also used their right-to-match card to retain Barbados opener Brandon King. Meanwhile, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots exercised their retention rights on Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, and Alick Athanaze. ## New signings and transfers shape CPL squads Khary Pierre, a left-arm spinner, joins Amazon Warriors to replace Motie, having recently returned to West Indies’ T20I squad in 2025-26. St Lucia Kings welcomed back allrounders Roston Chase and Matthew Forde, while Jewel Andrew moved from Antigua & Barbuda Falcons to Kings. Falcons secured Fabian Allen, Jayden Seales, and Amir Jangoo through retention options. Karima Gore, a former USA international, remains at Falcons for the season. ## St Kitts & Nevis Patriots make key roster changes St Kitts & Nevis Patriots kept Jason Holder, who continues to excel in the IPL, and brought in Johnson Charles, the CPL’s leading run-scorer with 3519 runs in 127 innings. Charles, previously vulnerable against left-arm spin, adjusted his game by adding reverse-sweeps and switch-hits. He will open the batting after moving from Patriots, where he spent a decade. Evin Lewis has joined Falcons following his departure from Patriots. ## Teams finalize squads with breakout players Barbados Tridents retained Sherfane Rutherford and added Jakeem Pollard, Johann Layne, and Kofi James as breakout prospects. Guyana Amazon Warriors kept Ronaldo Alimohamed, Veerasammy Permaul, Matthew Nandu, Jonathan van Lange, and drafted Mavendra Dindyal, Isai Thorne, and Quentin Sampson as potential breakout stars. Jamaica Kingsmen added Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty, Jediah Blades, and Vitel Lawes, with Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, and Jeavor Royal highlighted as breakout talents. ## Patriots and Kings finalize rosters for 2026 St Kitts & Nevis Patriots retained Navin Bidaisee and drafted Micah McKenzie and Mikyle Louis as breakout players. St Lucia Kings kept Kamil Pooran and added Jewel Andrew, Matthew Forde, and Roston Chase through retention options. Trinbago Knight Riders secured Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, and Akeal Hosein, along with emerging players like Nathan Edward and Joshua da Silva. ## CPL expands to eight nations for 2026 season CPL 2026 will be played across a record-equalling eight nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. The tournament runs from August 7 to September 20 and will overlap with The Hundred. Fans can expect fixtures across multiple Caribbean destinations, showcasing regional talent. ## Finalized squads for CPL 2026 franchises | Barbados Tridents | Guyana Amazon Warriors | Jamaica Kingsmen | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots | St Lucia Kings | Trinbago Knight Riders | |-------------------|------------------------|------------------|---------------------------|------------------|---------------------------| | Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King (RMO), Zachary Carter, Kadeem Alleyne (RMO), Ramon Simmonds (retained), Shadrack Descarte, Zishan Motara, Jakeem Pollard (Breakout player), Johann Layne (Breakout player), Kofi James (Breakout player, RMO) | Shimron Hetmyer (RMO), Romario Shepherd (RMO), Shai Hope (RMO), Khary Pierre, Shamar Joseph (RMO), Ronaldo Alimohamed, Veerasammy Permaul, Matthew Nandu, Jonathan van Lange, Mavendra Dindyal (Breakout player), Isai Thorne (Breakout player), Quentin Samspson (Breakout player) | Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty, Jediah Blades, Shaqkere Parris, Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes (RMO), Romaine Morris, Kirk McKenzie (Breakout player), Kelvin Pitman (Breakout player), Jeavor Royal (Breakout player) | Johnson Charles, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers (RMO), Andre Fletcher (RMO), Kevin Wickham, Obed McCoy, Ashmead Nedd, Jeremiah Louis, Alick Athanaze (RMO), Micah McKenzie (Breakout player), Navin Bidaisee (Breakout player, retained), Mikyle Louis (Breakout player, RMO) | Roston Chase (RMO), Jewel Andrew, Matthew Forde (RMO), Kamil Pooran, Darron Nedd, McKenny Clarke, Joshua Bishop, Damion Joachim, Keon Gaston (RMO), Amari Goodridge (Breakout player), Johann Jeremiah (Breakout player), Ackeem Auguste (Breakout player, retained) | Sunil Narine (RMO), Nicholas Pooran (RMO), Kieron Pollard (RMO), Akeal Hosein (RMO), Justin Greaves, Dominic Drakes, Jyd Goolie, Dexter Sween, Terrance Hinds (RMO), Nathan Edward (Breakout player, retained), Joshua da Silva (Breakout player), Abdul-Raheem Toppin |