After a snub from Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025, Mohammad Rizwan confirmed a deal from the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 (CPL). He will join the franchise for the first time in his career as the replacement of Afghanistan international Fazalhaq Farooqi. The first bowler will join the Afghanistan cricket team ahead of the tri-series in the UAE involving Pakistan and the UAE.

Rizwan, 33, who is neither a part of the Asia Cup squad nor Pakistan’s T20I team, has no issue joining the CPL setup. Though it is not yet clear when he will be going to join the Caribbean team. Patriots had a rocky start to this year’s CPL, as they lost in 3 back-to-back matches before getting their first victory of the ongoing campaign.

To join a franchise league, as per rules set by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), every player under the board’s central contract needs to take a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the governing body. As per PCB’s rules, cricketers under central contract are allowed to take part in only 2 overseas franchise tournaments within a 12-month span. Before signing a contract for Patriots, Rizwan enabled a contract for Melbourne Renegades for the Big Bash League, which means the batter is fully utilizing PCB’s guidelines.

Read More: 53* off 19, Punjab Kings star wrecked havoc during Match 19 of 2025 Maharaja Trophy T20

Rizwan and Patriots both wish to bounce back

There are multiple Pakistani cricketers involved in the ongoing CPL. Before confirming Rizwan’s service, Patriots already have two Pakistanis in their squad as the fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi. The champions of CPL 2017 and CPL 2021 will try to bounce back after sustaining early setbacks.

 In place of a fast bowler, signing Rizwan, who is a full-time batter, clearly showed the franchise's intention to bolster their batting strength. On August 8, 2025, the Peshawar-born scored 53 runs against the West Indies in an ODI match.

With less than a month to go, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 has received a slight update to its schedule. The tournament, which was earlier set to begin on August 14, will now start on August 15, and the final has been moved from September 21 to September 22. While most fixtures remain the same, a few match dates and timings have been adjusted for smoother planning.

The updated schedule was released on July 23 by CPL T20 and Cricket West Indies (CWI) through their official platforms. The changes have been made to help with venue availability, fan engagement, and better coordination with broadcasters. All matches will still be played across seven Caribbean venues, with six teams competing for the title.

CPL 2025 Venues (7 across the Caribbean)

Competing Teams – CPL 2025

• Saint Lucia Kings (Defending Champions)
• Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
• Barbados Royals
• Guyana Amazon Warriors
• St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
• Trinbago Knight Riders

CPL 2025: Updated Full Schedule

What's New in CPL 2025?

• Minor rescheduling for smoother logistics
• Dwayne Bravo’s head coach debut with TKR
• Mandatory inclusion of one Breakout League player per XI
• All knockout matches hosted at Providence Stadium, Guyana
• A rich blend of global stars and rising Caribbean talent

ALSO SEE: ENG vs IND 2025: What is probability of losing toss 14 times straight?

CPL 2025: Full Squads of all 6 teams

Saint Lucia Kings: Tim David, Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Tim Seifert, Roston Chase, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Wiese, Delano Potgieter, Matthew Forde, Aaron Jones, Khary Pierre, Javelle Glen, Micah McKenzie, Shadrack Descarte, Johann Jeremiah, Keon Gaston, Ackeem Auguste

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Glenn Phillips, Gudakesh Motie, Moeen Ali, Shamar Joseph, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Shamarh Brooks, Kemol Savory, Hassan Khan, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Quentin Sampson, Riyad Latif

Trinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Alex Hales, Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Amir, Colin Munro, Usman Tariq, Ali Khan, Darren Bravo, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Terrance Hinds, McKenny Clarke, Joshua Da Silva, Nathan Edward

Barbados Royals: Rovman Powell, Brandon King, Sherfane Rutherford, Quinton de Kock, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Jomel Warrican, Kadeem Alleyne, Shaqkere Parris, Kofi James, Nyeem Young, Rivaldo Clarke, Zishan Motara, Johann Layne, Ramon Simmonds

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons: Imad Wasim, Shakib Al Hasan, Fabian Allen, Naveen-ul-Haq, Obed McCoy, Justin Greaves, Bevon Jacobs, Jayden Seales, Allah Ghazanfar, Rahkeem Cornwall, Odean Smith, Jewel Andrew, Shamar Springer, Amir Jangoo, Karima Gore, Kevin Wickham, Joshua James

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Corbin Bosch, Waqar Salamkheil, Andre Fletcher, Alick Athanaze, Mohammad Nawaz, Dominic Drakes, Mikyle Louis, Ashmead Nedd, Jeremiah Louis, Jyd Goolie, Navin Bidaisee, Leniko Boucher

CPL 2025 Live Streaming and Telecast Details

These platforms had exclusive rights during the CPL 2024 season, and are expected to continue their coverage for the 2025 edition as well. In case there is any change to the live coverage arrangements for CPL 2025, updates will be shared once officially confirmed by Cricket West Indies (CWI) or CPL T20 management.

Cricket is gearing up for a major global shake-up as the Champions League T20 format is set to return – this time with a new identity. Reports suggest the revamped competition will be called the World Club Championship, bringing together the winners of the world’s top T20 franchise leagues in a blockbuster tournament format.

Several sources have indicated that the event will take place in 2026, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) being two of the most invested in the revival. Furthermore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also given support to the idea, signalling its desire to take club T20 cricket globally.

Participating Leagues in the Inaugural Edition:

However, there’s a major omission. No team from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will feature in the first edition, reportedly due to Pakistan Cricket Board’s absence from a key meeting held in London. The meeting, hosted under the ICC’s umbrella, was attended by representatives of all the major T20 leagues, including the Emirates League, SA20, CPL, and more. The Lahore Qalandars, the reigning PSL champions, will miss out.

Building a Unified T20 Ecosystem – and Blunting Saudi Ambitions

ECB CEO Richard Gould, in a statement to ESPNcricinfo, confirmed that the tournament is indeed "on the cards" for both men and women, calling it “the next logical step” for the evolution of franchise cricket.

The World Club Championship is also reportedly being fast-tracked to counter the emergence of the Saudi Cricket League, a high-budget T20 initiative backed by a reported USD 400 million investment. Saudi plans to model their league on the tennis Grand Slam format, but opposition from top cricket boards like the BCCI and ECB – who are unlikely to grant NOCs to their players – has already created roadblocks.

ALSO SEE: RCB analyst credits this player over Virat Kohli for their maiden IPL 2025 title victory

With nearly every cricketing nation now boasting a franchise T20 league, a unified global competition makes strategic sense. It not only provides a global stage for top-performing teams but also gives players from emerging leagues – like those in the UAE and USA – a golden opportunity to rub shoulders with the sport’s elite.

A Global Reboot of Franchise Cricket's Biggest Stage

The concept closely mirrors the now-defunct Champions League T20, which ran from 2009 to 2014. That tournament saw top clubs from the IPL, BBL, South Africa’s Ram Slam, and others compete in a high-stakes, intercontinental format. The new World Club Championship aims to revive that legacy – but with a more inclusive, globally aligned structure.

Though the exact format and schedule are still under discussion, the World Club Championship is likely to:

• Feature winners (or top teams) from each major T20 league
  
• Rotate venues globally
  
• Feature both men’s and women’s editions in the long run
  
• Be supported by strong broadcast and commercial deals
  

The stage is now being set for what could become cricket’s ultimate franchise showdown. With most of the cricketing world on board and ICC backing secured, the World Club Championship promises to redefine the global T20 calendar – and spark new rivalries along the way.

ECB Looks at Bringing Back Global T20 Club Tournament

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is thinking about starting a new World Club Championship for T20 cricket. It’s been over ten years since the last Champions League T20 (CLT20) was held. The CLT20 ran from 2009 to 2014. Its final match was in Bengaluru in 2014, where Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders. The tournament stopped because not enough people were interested, and it didn’t make enough money.

Since then, many countries have started their own T20 leagues. England has The Hundred, South Africa has the SA20, the UAE has the ILT20, and the United States has the MLC. In other sports, too, club tournaments are growing. Football’s FIFA Club World Cup is getting a new format, and rugby is planning its own Club World Cup. ECB chief executive Richard Gould said they’re very interested in creating a tournament like the old CLT20.

🚨 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 🚨

- CLT20 is set to return as the World Club Championship in 2026. 🤯

- ECB and ICC Chairman Jay Shah and BCCI are actively working on the idea. [𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐠]

MASSIVE GOOD NEWS FOR CRICKET LOVERS..! 😍 pic.twitter.com/NSpEWVhI39

— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) July 1, 2025

“That is on the cards,” Gould told ESPNcricinfo. “Without doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship for both men and women. That’s the next logical step.” Gould also said the old CLT20 was a good idea but came too early. “That tournament was ahead of its time,” he said. “Commercially, it couldn’t keep up with expectations, but it was a really good event.”

ALSO READ: Real culprit of Bengaluru stampede now revealed after investigation

For this new World Club Championship to work, most of the IPL teams would need to support it. Many IPL owners already have teams in other countries. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has said that the BCCI might support the idea if it can bring real value to the game.

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025, from August 14 to September 21, 2025, will have 34 T20 games in six Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Six teams will play a double round-robin, with the top four qualifying for the playoffs, which will end with the final at Providence Stadium, Guyana.

This 13th edition will have electrifying cricket, with Saint Lucia Kings set to defend the 2024 title against competitive teams such as Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors. The tournament will be a combination of Caribbean flavor and international T20 stars and will pull the fans to prestigious sites like Kensington Oval and Queen's Park Oval. 

Live Streaming/Broadcast Overview

• India: Star Sports Network (starsports.com) for TV; FanCode (fancode.com) for streaming at 4:30 AM, 5:30 AM, or 7:30 PM IST.
• Caribbean: SportsMax (sportsmax.tv) in the West Indies; TV6 (ccntv6.com) in Trinidad and Tobago through the CCN TV6 app; GBN in Grenada.
• UK: TNT Sports (tntsports.co.uk) for live coverage.
• USA and Canada: Willow TV (willow.tv) for TV and streaming.
• South Africa: SuperSport (supersport.com) for live coverage.
• MENA: Cricbuzz (cricbuzz.com) to stream.
• Rest of the World: Free streaming on CPL's official YouTube (youtube.com/@OfficialCPLT20) and Facebook (facebook.com/CPLT20) channels.

Also Read: Anushka Sharma’s emotional post on Virat Kohli's Test retirement

Teams and Key Players

• Saint Lucia Kings: Defending champions, captained by Faf du Plessis, and Alzarri Joseph and Roston Chase.
• Antigua & Barbuda Falcons: Skippered by Imad Wasim, with Brandon King and Mohammad Amir.
• Barbados Royals: Captained by Rovman Powell, with Quinton de Kock and Jason Holder.
• Guyana Amazon Warriors: With Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope.
• St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Features Kyle Mayers and Evin Lewis.
• Trinbago Knight Riders: Captained by Kieron Pollard, with Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine.

Squads will be confirmed post the July 2025 player draft, with each team allowed four overseas players and one emerging player.

The 13th season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will light up the West Indies between August 14 and September 21, 2025, with high-voltage T20 cricket in six Caribbean islands: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Saint Lucia Kings, title defenders following their 2024 victory, will encounter tough rivalry from five other teams in a 34-game tournament that culminates with the final at Providence Stadium, Guyana.

Tournament Structure and Calendar

The CPL 2025 operates a double round-robin schedule involving six teams—Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Saint Lucia Kings, and Trinbago Knight Riders—each competing in 10 league games. The top four qualify for the playoffs, which include an eliminator, qualifiers, and the final. The complete schedule, released on March 24, 2025, consists of matches at seven grounds, with Trinidad and Tobago hosting at two grounds. The tournament begins with Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs. St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Squads and Key Players

Squads will be settled after the July 2025 player draft and pre-draft signings. Anticipate retained stars such as Saint Lucia Kings' Faf du Plessis and Alzarri Joseph, Guyana Amazon Warriors' Shimron Hetmyer, and Trinbago Knight Riders' Nicholas Pooran. New faces and international T20 specialists will arrive, with each team having a maximum of four overseas players and one emerging player in at least five games.

Also Read: List of matches Virat Kohli will play till ODI World Cup 2027

Venues and Fixtures

Matches will be staged at legendary grounds such as Kensington Oval (Barbados), Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium (Saint Lucia), and Queen's Park Oval (Trinidad). 

Guyana Amazon Warriors' skipper and former Protea spinner Imran Tahir expresses his outrage over non-payment of dues for his stint with Rangpur Riders in last year's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season. As his side looked to lock horns with the Bangladeshi franchise in the ongoing Global Super League tournament, his eye-opening remarks have highlighted a grave issue within the Bangladesh domestic cricket structure. 

Speaking at the toss, Tahir was visibly frustrated with Rangpur Riders on this issue which in turn fueled his desire to outperform his former franchise in the 8th encounter of the Global Super League. 

See also: ICC approves PCB's request for a hybrid model for all their future games till 2027

Tahir's comments at the toss

At the time of winning the toss, Tahir's comments seemed to be very modest at first. Like most captains, Tahir backed his side and wanted them to put on a good show. 

He seemed to be in good spirits before unleashing a bombshell on his opposition Rangpur Riders, which now happens to be one of the former franchises he represented last year. 

"We want to win every game; that's what we're here for. I am personally motivated to win this match for Guyana because last year I played for Rangpur in the BPL. I still haven't received my full payment from them, which makes me even more eager to perform against them."

The Demerara Bank Coin Toss goes the way of the Rangpur Riders and they have decided to bat first tonight! 🇬🇾 vs 🇧🇩 #GSLT20 #GAWvRR #GlobalSuperLeague pic.twitter.com/4vzXbmIoHz

— Global Super League (@gslt20) December 4, 2024

Tahir does not end there. He goes a step further to intensify his attack on the Rangpur Riders franchise. He wanted to highlight Guyana's welcoming culture which stands in sharp contrast with the outlook and the mindset of his former franchise. 

"We want to show them that Guyana welcomes them. They bring their local players here, earn some money, play good and we’ll show them that we’re better humans than them." 

Warriors fell short in a low-scoring thriller

Despite the bold comments from the Guyana Warriors skipper, the Warrior nation fell short by 15 runs. Pretorious, Tanzim, and Tahir starred with the ball picking up seven wickets but a fighting knock of 58 from Khushdil dragged the Riders to a face-saving total of 117. 

The Warriors batters failed to apply themselves in the run chase as Kamrul and Harmeet shared seven wickets between them to sink Guyana Warriors for 102. The Nurul Hasan-led Rangpur Riders have stormed their way to the final and will face Victoria at the Providence Stadium on December 6.

Guyana Amazon Warriors are in really good form again and they look very commanding. They won the last season and look set for a double with the way they are going about their business.  On the other side though, St Lucia Kings are looking pretty solid as well. Both sides come in after a loss in their last league games but that could leave them more menacing considering they both will be eager to step up when the big games come in.

GAW vs SLK Match Details

Date: October 3rd, 2024

Time:  4:30 PM IST

Venue: Providence, Guyana

GAW vs SLK Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice morning is expected for the game.

GAW vs SLK Pitch Report

Guyana is a touch low scoring with a bit of slowness in the pitch. Batting first will be a better option with the pitch getting tougher to bat on as the game goes on.

GAW vs SLK Predicted Playing XI

GAW Playing XI

Azam Khan, Tim Robinson, Shai Hope, Moeen Ali, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Raymon Reifer, Dwaine Pretorius, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Shamar Joseph

SLK Playing XI

Faf Du Plessis, Johnson Charles, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Tim Seifert, David Wiese, Aaron Jones, Khary Pierre, Noor Ahmed, Mikkel Govia, Alzarri Joseph

GAW vs SLK Key Players

Alzarri Joseph

Alzarri Joseph has been in pretty good form this season. His pace is up where it needs to be and his new-ball wickets have helped St Lucia a lot as he rocks sides early in the powerplay.

Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer has been hitting the ball pretty well this season. With added strength in the middle-order he will have a little more cushion and hence a greater license to free his arms and ensure he goes big and hard.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 5 captains of the tournament

GAW vs SLK Match Tips

Guyana Amazon Warriors are favorites given their recent form and performances at home.

Match Prediction: Guyana Amazon Warriors Will Win the Match

Guyana Amazon Warriors are getting back on track and with Imran Tahir back they are looking pretty good as a unit. Barbados Royals did get off to a promising start but are now not going so well with two defeats in a row on turning tracks.

GAW vs BR Match Details

Date: September 25th, 2024

Time:  4:30 PM IST

Venue: Providence, Guyana

GAW vs BR Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice morning is expected for the game.

GAW vs BR Pitch Report

Guyana is a touch low scoring with a bit of slowness in the pitch. Batting first will be a better option with the pitch getting tougher to bat on as the game goes on.

GAW vs BR Predicted Playing XI

GAW Playing XI

Azam Khan, Tim Robinson, Shai Hope, Moeen Ali, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Raymon Reifer, Dwaine Pretorious, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Shamar Joseph

BR Playing XI

Quinton De Kock, Kadeem Alleyne, Alick Athanaze, Rovman Powell, David Miller, Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Nyeem Young, Naveen Ul Haq, Maheesh Theekshana, Obed McCoy

GAW vs BR Key Players

Quinton De Kock

The South African opener is having a good time in the Caribbean. He is batting really well at the top and continues to step up on his six-hitting game.

Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer has been hitting the ball pretty well this season. With added strength in the middle-order he will have a little more cushion and hence a greater license to free his arms and ensure he goes big and hard.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 5 captains of the tournament

GAW vs BR Match Tips

Guyana Amazon Warriors are favorites given their recent form and performances at home.

Match Prediction: Guyana Amazon Warriors Will Win the Match

The Trinbago Knight Riders are facing some issues with consistency. They look exceptional once and are quick to fall back down the next game. They have the experience though and with age factor a point for them they will have to accept a few bad games. However, that experience aspect will truly be crucial for them if they get through to the playoffs given their strength.

TKR vs STKNP Match Details

Date: September 22nd, 2024

Time:  4:30 PM IST

Venue: Tarouba, Trinidad

TKR vs STKNP Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice morning is expected for the game.

TKR vs STKNP Pitch Report

A good batting track with short boundaries will make it likely for a high-scoring fixture.

TKR vs STKNP Predicted Playing XI

TKR Playing XI

Shaqkere Parris, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Keacy Carty, Tim David, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Akeal Hossein, Chris Jordan, Josh Little, Waqar Salamkheil

STKNP Playing XI

Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, Rilee Roussow, Josh Clarkson, Mikyle Louis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Veerasammy Permaul, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Johann Layne

TKR vs STKNP Key Players

Kyle Mayers

Kyle Mayers has been dealing in sixers so far. He is in really good form, topping his cameos with an incredible and explosive innings in the previous encounter.

Tim David

Tim David is rolling in the CPL. His aggressive batting down the order adds a lot of value to a side filled with six hitters. With Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran beside him, David has all the more license to tee off with happiness.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 5 captains of the tournament

TKR vs STKNP Match Tips

Despite the lack of consistency, Trinbago will start favorites.

Match Prediction: Trinbago Knight Riders Will Win the Match