Who Owns the CPL? The Man Behind the Caribbean Premier League

It’s no secret that we live in a great time for cricket. From the Ashes to the ODI World Cup, we can watch entertaining cricket from all over the world. However, it doesn’t get much better than T20 cricket, as this shortened version is full of big shots, fast action and nail-biting finishes.

T20 leagues have emerged practically everywhere by now, including India’s own hugely successful IPL, as well as Australia’s BBL and even South Africa’s SA20. Let’s not forget, though, the one T20 league that is rapidly gaining in popularity and star players, and that’s the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Much like the style of West Indies cricket in general, the CPL games are full of a party atmosphere, numerous sixes, and compelling wickets. You may have already looked at our CPL match predictions and checked out this must-watch T20 league, but what you might not be aware of is the ownership situation.

Let’s dive into the full story of the Caribbean Premier League owner and what it could mean for the future of this thriving cricket league.

The Evolution of CPL Ownership

The CPL was formed in 2013 as a league created by the West Indies Cricket Board, primarily as a way to replicate the financial success achieved by other T20 leagues. It was alsos seen as a way for local players to receive more T20 experience to help potential selections for the national side in T20I matches.

The WICB partnered with a private investment group named Verus International in order to set up the CPL. During this time, the CPL was jointly owned by the cricket board and some private investors. This was necessary in order to get the resources needed for some big-name stars and sponsorships.

Soon, private investors were making most of the monetary decisions and control was moving away from the cricket board. Not that fans noticed, as the CPL was bigger than ever and native stars were dominating headlines, such as Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, and Kieron Pollard.

The ownership changed depending on investors and it was clear some stability was needed for the CPL to remain popular and entertaining.

Denis O’Brien: The New CPL Owner

Enter: Denis O’Brien. The CPL made a change of ownership in 2024 when Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien became the sole owner after purchasing all shares of the league, which means he controls 100% of the CPL. This is precisely what the league needed, as the up-and-down nature of the ownership meant too much flux for a T20 tournament that demands stability.

Not exactly a stranger to the CPL, O’Brien had already been involved in helping finance the league and his telecom company, Digicel, was often a sponsor of the CPL and West Indies cricket in general.

While there might be initial fears that one owner could mean big changes for the worse, CPL fans needn’t worry. O’Brien has hinted at plans to continue the growth of the league, which could certainly involve bigger salaries, major sponsors, and the potential for more international viewership with TV deals from the UK, USA, and India.

The possibility of more teams could also be in discussion and the overall quality of the stadiums and pitches is something O’Brien wants to improve. “I have a deep love for the Caribbean and its people,” said O’Brien in a statement. “I am committed to ensuring the tournament continues to make a positive economic and cultural impact in the host countries while serving as a platform to develop future cricket stars.”

Inside the Caribbean Premier League Ownership Structure

So how exactly is the CPL structured after the ownership change? Let's dig deeper into these key areas:

CPL's Operational Structure

The company named Caribbean Premier League Ltd. handles the running of the CPL T20 league, including overseeing all franchises, broadcasts, sponsorships, player contracts, and organising the games and finals. While different investors and even the WICB had handled everything previously, Denis O’Brien controls the entire CPL with his investment company.

Viewership and Key Milestones

The 2024 CPL tournament had a big increase in viewership, as it jumped 32% from 2023 to a total of 1.13 billion worldwide (combining digital and broadcast platforms). 2024 was also a good year for Caribbean cricket after co-hosting the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup with the USA.

Franchise Ownership and Teams

The six CPL teams are owned by different franchise owners, but they still answer to Denis O’Brien as the CPL owner and pay fees to the league while also sharing in revenue gained from sponsorship and broadcasting deals. The teams are as follows:

The Jamaica Tallawahs are no longer operational as a CPL franchise.

Continued WICB Involvement

While the West Indies Cricket Board doesn’t have an ownership stake in the CPL anymore, they are still involved to ensure that the Caribbean Premier League schedule doesn’t clash with any planned matches for the national side (Test, ODI, and T20I). So the best players are able to suit up for the both CPL and the West Indies national team.

Conclusion

After a tough start to compete with other T20 leagues, the CPL has gathered enough steam to become a competitive tournament in its own right. The matches are exciting and high scoring, there’s a good mix of star players and emerging talent, and the overall product is worthy of international viewers.

Now that Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien has taken full ownership control of the CPL, it’s hoped that the Caribbean Premier League owner can take the league to a new level. In the meantime, fans will continue to enjoy the thrilling matches and Caribbean flair that make this league so special.

You can read our OCBscores cricket betting blog for all the latest on the CPL and more. And if you fancy betting on the CPL, remember our list of cricket websites for betting are all fully licensed and regulated so you can be sure that you are playing in safe hands.