CPL: It's again named Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel!

The management of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) announced on Tuesday that the matter regarding the naming of the Red Steel franchise has been resolved and that the team will once again bear the name Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel.

"We would particularly like to thank Minister Gary Griffith for his timely intervention in this matter and for his support in bringing it to a positive conclusion," the CPL said.

With that matter now out of the way, the CPL said it could now "concentrate our efforts on ensuring that the remainder of the tournament is a resounding success and that cricket fans across the world enjoy it to the fullest."

The statement did not elaborate however on the terms of the agreement.

Franchise based

The Caribbean Premier League is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament, featuring six teams, with each based in a particular country and bearing the country's name.

That naming arrangement changed briefly, however, in respect of the Red Steel, when the Government of Trinidad & Tobago requested the removal of the country's name, reasoning that since the players were not all nationals of the twin-island republic, the franchise was not truly representative of the state.

Anil Roberts, Trinidad & Tobago's Sports Minister, in a recent letter to Red Steel manager Colin Borde, sought to clarify the government's action: “This was not a decision. It is simply that the protocol surrounding the use of our beloved country’s name would not allow this private team to be branded Trinidad and Tobago. There will be no negotiation, neither any compromise."

He asserted further that ”Trinidad and Tobago’s name cannot and will not be used in this privately run venture that has absolutely no involvement with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, the only recognised cricket sporting body in the world with the right to use our country’s name.”

Bravo

Trinidadian star, Dwayne Bravo, who captains the Red Steels, had publicly expressed his displeasure at the government's decision and vowed to continue referring to the team as Trinidad & Tobago Red Steels. That, in turn, had provoked a sharp rebuke by Sports Minister

Several of Trinidad & Tobago's best players are also playing for other franchises in the competition. That is also a matter of concern for Roberts in respect of the naming issue.

"How can a team be called Trinidad and Tobago in the absence of Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul and others?” he asked.

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

CPL 2014 started on July 11, and is slated to come to a climax on August 16.