West Indies’ Andre Russell during net practice at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, Britain on June 13, 2019.
Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs, File
Kingsmen Sports Enterprise is targeting a strong Jamaican core as it prepares to relaunch a Jamaica-based franchise in this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Among the main players on their radar are Jamaican stars Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, and Brandon King.
The upcoming CPL season, scheduled to run from August through Sept. 20, will mark the return of a Jamaican franchise after a two-year absence. The revival follows a successful takeover by United States-based Kingsmen, which is owned by Pakistan-born businessman Fawad Sarwar. The new ownership group is aiming to quickly build a competitive squad capable of challenging for the title.
Powell and King are currently in India representing the West Indies cricket team in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Both players are regarded as explosive batters and experienced leaders.
Powell notably captained the Jamaica Tallawahs to the CPL title in 2022, but has since spent the last three seasons leading the Barbados Royals. King, who captained the Tallawahs in 2023 before the team’s hiatus, later represented the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in 2024 and returned to the Royals in 2025.
Meanwhile, Russell, one of the most dynamic all-rounders in T20 cricket, retired from international cricket last year but remains a major force in franchise leagues. He previously left the Tallawahs ahead of the 2022 season to join the Trinbago Knight Riders, where he won the CPL title last season.
Although Kingsmen have identified these three Jamaican stars as priority signings, it remains uncertain whether they will be able to secure their services, given existing contracts and franchise dynamics. Nonetheless, the franchise’s ambition signals a strong intent to restore Jamaican cricket prominence in the CPL and build a squad capable of competing for championship honours immediately.
Last year, 37-year-old Russell said he was interested in ending his CPL career with the Jamaican franchise, while Powell told the Jamaica Observer in 2023 that he hoped to return “back home.”
