DEAL SEALED
Pepsi, Chris Gayle on board to fire up Tallawahs’ new CPL season
West Indies batting star Chris Gayle has signed a deal with Jamaica tallawahs as their marquee player for the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), set to start in September.
Gayle, who will be 39 in September and, is the leading T20 batsman of all time with over 10,000 runs and who is also the leading CPL run scorer with 2,111 runs, will return as captain of the Tallawahs, which he led to victory in 2013 and 2016.
Jefferson Miller, chief executive officer of the Tallawahs, also revealed at a press conference that the franchise will be playing all their games in Jamaica, after playing three matches in Florida, United States, last year.
“The Jamaica Tallawahs will be coming home to play five games this year,” revealed Miller to loud applause from the small gathering inside the Legacy Suite at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday.
“The Jamaican people have, over the last six seasons from day one, have thrown their support behind the team and for that, we are very grateful,” said Miller.
The Tallawahs have resettled and will be playing their five home games in Jamaica. Last year they played three games in Florida, USA, and two in Jamaica, which irked many Jamaicans.
“I am standing here with a smile on my face because I have a gentleman who has
demonstrated that he is the only one ‘Universal Boss’ and he will be returning home this year. Christopher Henry Gayle has signed up with the Tallawahs. He is very passionate about returning home and gives us that third championship. He will be captain of the team and he is very eager and ready to go,” Miller noted.
Gayle, a former West Indies Test skipper, has been one of, if not the best cricketers in the world, especially in the shorter T20 version. He led Jamaica to two titles in 2013 and 2016, but has since been representing St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, where he captained them to the playoffs in successive years while making the finals in 2017.
The Tallawahs will be coached by Donovan Miller, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Andrew Richardson.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Olivia Grange said she was here because of the Government’s commitment to the success of the Tallawahs franchise.
“I am, therefore, extremely pleased to officially inform you that the Government of Jamaica fully endorses the franchise and is committing $2.7 million to facilitate the hosting of the 2019 CPL T20 series in Jamaica,” said Grange.
“In addition to the ministry’s commitment, the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) is providing support up to a maximum of $10 million. This will facilitate the entry of equipment — which will be exported at the end of the series valued at $5 million and cash sponsorship of $4.6 million and the purchasing of 60 tickets for all five nights along with two boxes valued at $1.1 million,” she added.
Director of Tourism Donovan White noted that the franchise’s name derived from a popular Jamaican expression, “we little, but we tallawah”, which gives a sense that a fierce and indomitable spirit is being expressed on the field of play.
“Cricket has a loyal following; People travel to watch the games and so this exciting format of the T20 attracts a whole new generation of people and fans from around the world ,and it creates a big opportunity for tourism to ensure that we not only align ourselves, but position Jamaica that enables us to grow,” said White.
“My team in Canada, US and the Caribbean have already started our push to bring loads of travellers in to Kingston for the CPL [and] we look forward to a great tournament in Jamaica,” said White, who is also president of the Waterhouse Football Club.
Elizabeth Allen, brand manager of main sponsors Pepsi-cola Jamaica, was on hand as she signed off on an undisclosed deal with the Tallawahs.
“I am proud to stand here not only on behalf of Pepsi Jamaica, but as a proud Jamaican. Sports play an integral role in youth development and our culture, and one of that sport is cricket,” said Allen.
“Pepsi has been integral in sports for decades and we have history with West Indies cricket team and even further, Pepsi globally has suported international cricket. And I am happy to announce that Pepsi is continuing its investment in Jamaican sports by sponsoring the Jamaica Tallawahs,” she said.