Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are jointly launching the inaugural West Indies Breakout League, a new cricket tournament designed to spotlight emerging talent across the region. The competition is scheduled to take place from 25 April to 10 May 2025, featuring six teams and 17 matches. All the games will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
The six teams taking part will be Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Rainforest Rangers, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, Trinidad & Tobago Legions and the Windward Islands Infernos. Players eligible to participate must be under 30 years old or at the start of the 2025 event, with limited professional experience—fewer than 40 List A T20 matches and fewer than 10 International T20s.
This initiative aims to bridge the gap between domestic, CPL and international cricket, with each team closely associated with their local territorial board and a CPL franchise. The tournament will provide a crucial platform for the next generation of T20 stars, allowing them to showcase their skills and take significant steps in their careers.
Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament, stating:
“This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the next wave of players to get the game time they need to push through to the next level and add depth in our T20 talent pool. We are delighted to collaborate with the CPL on this initiative, which promises to provide a strong platform for up-and-coming talent in the West Indies.”
Pete Russell, CEO of Republic Bank CPL, echoed these sentiments, saying:
“We are excited to join forces with Cricket West Indies to deliver a world-class and sustainable tournament. This initiative is not only an investment in the future of West Indies cricket but also a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to witness exceptional talent and great cricket.”
The West Indies Breakout League is poised to become a key element in the region’s cricketing calendar, offering fans, players, and franchises a chance to play their part nurturing the next wave of cricketing stars.
The fixtures for the 2025 West Indies Breakout League are as follows:
Date Teams Venue 25 Apr 25, 2pm Guyana Rainforest Rangers v Windward Islands Infernos Brian Lara Cricket Academy 25 Apr 25,7pm Trinidad & Tobago Legions v Barbados Pelicans Brian Lara Cricket Academy 26 Apr 25, 2pm Jamaica Titans v Leeward Islands Thunder Brian Lara Cricket Academy 26 Apr 25, 7pm Trinidad & Tobago Legions v Guyana Rainforest Rangers Brian Lara Cricket Academy 29 Apr 25, 2pm Jamaica Titans v Guyana Rainforest Rangers Brian Lara Cricket Academy 29 Apr 25, 7pm Barbados Pelicans v Windward Islands Infernos Brian Lara Cricket Academy 30 Apr 25, 2pm Trinidad & Tobago Legions v Jamaica Titans Brian Lara Cricket Academy 30 Apr 25, 7pm Barbados Pelicans v Leeward Islands Thunder Brian Lara Cricket Academy 2 May 25, 2pm Jamaica Titans v Barbados Pelicans Brian Lara Cricket Academy 2 May 25, 7pm Leeward Islands Thunder v Trinidad & Tobago Legions Brian Lara Cricket Academy 4 May 25, 2pm Windward Islands Infernos v Trinidad &Tobago Legions Brian Lara Cricket Academy 4 May 25, 7pm Guyana Rainforest Rangers v Leeward Islands Thunder Brian Lara Cricket Academy 6 May 25, 2pm Barbados Pelicans v Guyana Rainforest Rangers Brian Lara Cricket Academy 6 May 25, 7pm Jamaica Titans v Windward Islands Infernos Brian Lara Cricket Academy 7 May 25, 7pm Leeward Islands Thunder v Windward Islands Infernos Brian Lara Cricket Academy 9 May 25, 7pm Playoff – 2nd place vs 3rd Place Brian Lara Cricket Academy 10 May 25, 7pm Final – 1st place vs winner of Playoff Brian Lara Cricket Academy
ABOUT THE WEST INDIES BREAKOUT LEAGUE
The West Indies Breakout League is a premier T20 cricket tournament designed to spotlight emerging talent from across the Caribbean. The league will feature teams representing the six territorial boards that comprise Cricket West Indies: Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Rainforest Rangers, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, Trinidad & Tobago Legions and the Windward Islands Infernos
Eligibility for the league is limited to players aged 30 or under at the start of the 2025 tournament who have played fewer than 40 List A T20 matches and fewer than 10 T20 Internationals, ensuring a focus on developing new talent. Each team is closely affiliated with a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, providing players with an opportunity to showcase their skills on a larger stage and progress their cricketing careers.
