T&T cricket goes the IPL way

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) is currently in talks with major stakeholders to bring franchise cricket to T&T, just as is done in the very lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). A source close to the situation told the Trinidad Guardian that the TTCB and Queen’s Park Cricket Club are currently negotiating the hosting rights for the tournament.

Four teams will be involved in the T20 tournament that will take place in June at the Queen’s Park Oval. The teams will play a round robin format and the winner will be determined after three days of competition. The four teams taking part are West Indies ‘A’, India ‘A’, Trinidad and Tobago Senior team and Trinidad and Tobago ‘A’ team.

According to the source: “Talks are ongoing for the tournament and so far we are progressing well. We are looking to go the IPL way, where we will have franchise cricket. The four teams will be owned by different companies and they will be able to bid for players in the first case. Details of the prize money and percentages to be paid to the owners who will be the TTCB and QPCC are still to be worked out.”

The IPL business plan allows the tournament organisers to gain funds through a participation fee, tournament title sponsorship, advertising, 20 per cent of the gate receipts, as well as transfer fees. The respective owners of the teams make their money through sponsorship, advertising and 80 per cent gate receipts.

The tournament will also be used to assist the T&T senior cricket team as they begin preparation for the T20 Champions League tournament in India in October later this year. An official of the TTCB also revealed that the board was currently seeking ways to implement a transfer fee for domestic players in the domestic cricket league.

“We are moving along nicely as far as getting a transfer fee in place to assist clubs with player hopping. The clubs invest a lot to nurture and develop players and what we are seeing now is rampant club hopping. “We would have to change the constitution of the T&T Cricket Board in order to make this a reality and as such we have acquired the services of a lawyer to guide us along the process.”

T&T’s domestic cricket is currently semi-pro and there are also moves in place to make it fully professional and this attempt at the franchise cricket could be used as a catalyst in achieving this process.