By Neto Baptiste
Legendary former West Indies batsman Sir Vivian Richards has welcomed the wider benefits generated by Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches.
Sir Viv, the country’s only living National Hero, said he was encouraged by the number of local and overseas supporters who attended the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium over the past week.
“There are people coming from Trinidad to support the Knight Riders. They have a huge following and go right around the region. You would also have had people coming from America and elsewhere in the region. This is something that we should appreciate. It is a package that we can promote and make much, much better,” he said.
The CPL was established by Cricket West Indies in 2013, replacing the Caribbean Twenty20 as the region’s premier domestic competition. It has since developed into a leading T20 tournament featuring prominent international players.
Sir Viv said the CPL had also reignited enthusiasm for cricket by creating an atmosphere in which fans could celebrate the game with a distinctly Caribbean flavour.
“I guess when it first started, there were many people who could not quite understand how it was going to work. But, as you can see, it has worked, it has become better and it is now an international product. We in the region should appreciate the support and energy, not only here in Antigua but throughout the Caribbean.
“It has been called the biggest party in sport, and you cannot ignore that. We are a vibrant people and we have a platform to highlight who we are. We gave the sporting world this whole music factor, and Chickie [Nigel Baptiste] must never be forgotten,” he said.
A CPL study of the 2025 tournament estimated that Antigua and Barbuda generated a total event impact of US$19.5 million. This comprised US$10.7 million attributed to matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and US$8.8 million in international media value.
Sir Viv hails CPL’s impact beyond cricket
