Defending Caribbean Premier League (CPL) champions Trinbago Knight Riders have retained their core West Indian stars for the upcoming season. The franchise used its right-to-match options during the recent draft to keep Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, and Kieron Pollard for the title defense campaign.
The Caribbean Premier League 2026 season is set to take place from August 7 until September 20. The tournament will feature fixtures across eight nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinbago Knight Riders Retain Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, and Sunil Narine for CPL 2026
Trinbago Knight Riders have decided to keep the core of their championship-winning squad together for CPL 2026. The franchise retained Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, and Akeal Hosein through the right-to-match process.
The team also strengthened its all-round department by adding Justin Greaves and Dominic Drakes. Nicholas Pooran played a major role in Trinbago’s title-winning campaign last season with several match-winning performances.
Kieron Pollard won the Player of the Tournament award, while Sunil Narine continued to contribute with both bat and ball. Akeal Hosein also delivered in the final and earned the Player of the Match award during the 2025 championship victory.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Kingsmen signed Andre Russell and Rovman Powell as marquee players, while Powell will captain the side after leading Jamaica Tallawahs to the title in 2022. The team also drafted 19-year-old wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes, who took 10 wickets in five U-19 World Cup matches earlier this year.
Guyana Amazon Warriors Retain Core Stars
Guyana Amazon Warriors retained Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd, and Shamar Joseph through right-to-match options. They also signed Khary Pierre to replace Gudakesh Motie and retained Quentin Sampson after his strong performances last season.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots added Jason Holder and CPL’s leading run-scorer Johnson Charles, who has scored 3519 runs in 127 innings. The franchise also retained Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, and Alick Athanaze.
Evin Lewis left the Patriots after ten years and joined Antigua and Barbuda Falcons alongside Alzarri Joseph. The Falcons retained Fabian Allen, Jayden Seales, Amir Jangoo, and Karima Gore for the upcoming season.
St Lucia Kings kept all-rounders Roston Chase and Matthew Forde while signing young batter Jewel Andrew. Barbados Tridents, meanwhile, added Gudakesh Motie and brought back West Indies opener Brandon King through the right-to-match process.
CPL 2026 Squads:
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen (RMO), Jayden Seales (RMO), Amir Jangoo (RMO), Shamar Springer, Jahmar Hamilton, Rahkeem Cornwall, Anderson Phillip, Karima Gore (Breakout player), Anderson Mahase (Breakout player), Joshua James (Breakout player, retained)
Barbados Tridents
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)
Guyana Amazon Warriors
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)
Jamaica Kingsmen
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)
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
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)
St Lucia Kings
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)
Trinbago Knight Riders
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
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