DTrinidad & Tobago doesn't want to figure in CPL name

Port of Spain, June 20 (IANS/CMC) Cricket officials in Trinidad and Tobago are raising objection to a decision by organisers of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to name the Port-of-Spain based franchise after the twin island republic.

Organisers have announced that the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel is among six franchises participating in the inaugural CPL, which starts July 30 in Barbados.

However, the governing body for cricket in Trinidad has released a statement that the name of the country should not be included in the name of the franchise.

"While the team will be captained by national player Dwayne Bravo, it is not a national team and should not be named such that the words 'Trinidad & Tobago' or the word 'Trinidad' be included in the naming or branding of the franchise," said the statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TCCB).

The TTCB release follows similar statements by national spin bowler Samuel Badree protesting the CPL's decision to use the name Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

"I think the names should not be that of the countries. They need to come up with something creative," said Badree.

"To have (Kieron) Pollard (of Trinidad) playing for Barbados and calling the team Barbados does not make sense and won't reflect what they are trying to achieve with the CPL."

The other five teams taking part in the CPL are Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, and St Lucia Zouks.

--IANS/CMC

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