The wait is over. All seven CPL 2026 franchises walked out of the May 15 draft with their local squads locked, and the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft delivered exactly what was promised – the biggest selection day in tournament history.
With the Jamaica Kingsmen joining as an eighth franchise and every existing team reshaping its core, this draft had more at stake than any before it.
Retentions were strategic. RTM cards were spent carefully. And the breakout picks — the league’s mandatory investment in young Caribbean talent — gave every squad a fresh dimension.
Contents
- 1 List of Breakout and Retained Players of CPL 2026
- 1.1 What do the CPL 2026 Draft Rules Actually Mean?
- 1.2 Local Players Confirmed Following CPL Draft 2026
- 1.3 Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
- 1.4 Barbados Tridents
- 1.5 Guyana Amazon Warriors
- 1.6 Jamaica Kingsmen
- 1.7 St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
- 1.8 Saint Lucia Kings
- 1.9 Trinbago Knight Riders
- 1.10 When CPL 2026 Starts — and Where?
- 1.11 Three Things This Draft Tells Us
- 1.12 FAQs
- 1.13 Follow Every CPL 2026 Roster Move
List of Breakout and Retained Players of CPL 2026
Here is the complete List Of Breakout and Retained Players of CPL 2026, organised by franchise.
What do the CPL 2026 Draft Rules Actually Mean?
Before the names, the framework. Every franchise built its local squad under the same set of rules:
- Squad size: Up to 17 players, including nine senior West Indies cricketers, five overseas players, and a minimum of three breakout players
- Right to Match (RTM): A franchise can match any rival offer on a previously held player to keep them
- Retained players: Directly re-signed without going through the open draft
- Breakout players: Mandatory picks from a pool of developing Caribbean cricketers — not optional, not cosmetic
The breakout category is worth understanding. These aren’t fringe selections.
The CPL uses this mechanism to guarantee that emerging regional talent gets professional T20 exposure every season, regardless of whether a franchise would otherwise prioritise youth.
Local Players Confirmed Following CPL Draft 2026
All squads below reflect local player confirmations only. Overseas selections will be confirmed separately ahead of the season.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
The Falcons secured Alzarri Joseph and Evin Lewis alongside three RTM picks, giving them a local core that balances pace, power, and youth through their breakout trio.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Right to Match | Fabian Allen, Jayden Seales, Amir Jangoo |
| Retained | Joshua James |
| Breakout Players | Karima Gore, Anderson Mahase, Joshua James |
| Full Squad | Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Jayden Seales, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Springer, Jahmar Hamilton, Rahkeem Cornwall, Anderson Phillip, Karima Gore, Anderson Mahase, Joshua James |
Barbados Tridents
The Tridents used five RTM cards — second only to TKR — to hold on to the majority of their previous squad, while Jakeem Pollard headlines an exciting breakout trio.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Right to Match | Brandon King, Kadeem Alleyne, Rivaldo Clarke, Johann Layne, Kofi James |
| Retained | Ramon Simmonds |
| Breakout Players | Jakeem Pollard, Johann Layne, Kofi James |
| Full Squad | Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King, Zachary Carter, Kadeem Alleyne, Ramon Simmonds, Shadrack Descarte, Rivaldo Clarke, Zishan Motara, Jakeem Pollard, Johann Layne, Kofi James |
Guyana Amazon Warriors
Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope were the headline RTM picks for the Warriors, who also retained spinner Khary Pierre and locked in a promising breakout class led by Mavendra Dindyal.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Right to Match | Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Shamar Joseph |
| Retained | Quentin Sampson |
| Breakout Players | Mavendra Dindyal, Isai Thorne, Quentin Sampson |
| Full Squad | Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Khary Pierre, Shamar Joseph, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Veerasammy Permaul, Matthew Nandu, Jonathan Van Lange, Mavendra Dindyal, Isai Thorne, Quentin Sampson |
Jamaica Kingsmen
First draft. No history. Jamaica Kingsmen built from the ground up — and landed Andre Russell and Rovman Powell as their centrepiece duo. Their sole RTM of Vitel Lawes suggests some prior relationship with the player pool, while their breakout trio adds the local identity every new franchise needs.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Right to Match | Vitel Lawes |
| Retained | None |
| Breakout Players | Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, Jeavor Royal |
| Full Squad | Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty, Jediah Blades, Shaqkere Parris, Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes, Romaine Morris, Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, Jeavor Royal |
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
Jason Holder anchors the Patriots’ local contingent, with Kyle Mayers and Alick Athanaze secured via RTM. Navin Bidaisee features in both the retained and breakout lists — a dual classification that underlines his status as one of the region’s most watched young players.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Right to Match | Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Alick Athanaze, Mikyle Louis |
| Retained | Navin Bidaisee |
| Breakout Players | Micah McKenzie, Navin Bidaisee, Mikyle Louis |
| Full Squad | Johnson Charles, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Kevin Wickham, Obed McCoy, Ashmead Nedd, Jeremiah Louis, Alick Athanaze, Micah McKenzie, Navin Bidaisee, Mikyle Louis |
Saint Lucia Kings
Roston Chase heads a strong local core for the Kings, who retained Ackeem Auguste and selected him as a breakout player — a clear signal of how highly the franchise rates his development trajectory.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Right to Match | Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Keon Gaston |
| Retained | Ackeem Auguste |
| Breakout Players | Amari Goodridge, Johann Jeremiah, Ackeem Auguste |
| Full Squad | Roston Chase, Jewel Andrew, Matthew Forde, Kamil Pooran, Darron Nedd, McKenny Clarke, Joshua Bishop, Damion Joachim, Keon Gaston, Amari Goodridge, Johann Jeremiah, Ackeem Auguste |
Trinbago Knight Riders
No franchise came into the draft with more intent than the Trinbago Knight Riders. Five RTMs — Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, and Terrance Hinds — before the open pool even opened. Retained Nathan Edward doubled as a breakout pick, alongside Joshua Da Silva and Abdul-Raheem Toppin.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Right to Match | Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, Terrance Hinds |
| Retained | Nathan Edward |
| Breakout Players | Nathan Edward, Joshua Da Silva, Abdul-Raheem Toppin |
| Full Squad | Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, Justin Greaves, Dominic Drakes, Jyd Goolie, Dexter Sween, Terrance Hinds, Nathan Edward, Joshua Da Silva, Abdul-Raheem Toppin |
When CPL 2026 Starts — and Where?
Cricket West Indies confirmed the schedule of the CPL 2026 season ahead of the draft.
Key dates:
- Season opens: August 8, 2026
- Season closes: September 21, 2026
- Venues: Eight grounds across the Caribbean
- Opening match: Jamaica Kingsmen vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
- Playoffs and final: All four matches at Kensington Oval, Barbados
The Kensington Oval, hosting the knockout stage, is fitting — it’s the ground where Caribbean cricket has produced some of its most memorable T20 moments, and 2026 should add more.
Three Things This Draft Tells Us
- 1. Trinbago are the team to beat — again. Five RTMs is a statement. TKR isn’t speculating on a rebuild; they’re protecting what already works. With Narine, Pooran, and Pollard all back, the burden of proof falls on every other franchise.
- 2. Jamaica Kingsmen are immediately competitive. New franchises often spend their first season finding their feet. A squad built around Andre Russell and Rovman Powell doesn’t have that problem. They arrive as contenders.
- 3. The breakout class of 2026 is genuinely interesting. Across all seven squads, names like Kirk McKenzie, Amari Goodridge, Johann Jeremiah, Mavendra Dindyal, and Abdul-Raheem Toppin represent the next wave of West Indian T20 cricketers. The CPL has launched careers before. It will again.
FAQs
- What is the CPL 2026 player draft, and when did it happen?
The CPL 2026 player draft is the annual selection event where all seven franchises confirm their local squads through retentions, Right to Match picks, and breakout player selections. The 2026 draft took place on Friday, May 15.
- How does the Right to Match rule work in CPL 2026?
RTM allows a franchise to retain a player from their previous squad by matching any other team’s draft offer. It’s used before the open draft begins and gives franchises a way to protect key players without losing them entirely.
- Who are the standout breakout players to watch in CPL 2026?
Kirk McKenzie (Jamaica Kingsmen), Mavendra Dindyal (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Amari Goodridge (Saint Lucia Kings), Johann Jeremiah (Saint Lucia Kings), and Abdul-Raheem Toppin (Trinbago Knight Riders) are among the most closely watched breakout selections this year.
- How many franchises are in CPL 2026?
Seven — Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Kingsmen (new), St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Saint Lucia Kings, and Trinbago Knight Riders.
- Which CPL 2026 franchise retained the most players via RTM?
Trinbago Knight Riders, with five RTM picks: Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, and Terrance Hinds.
- Where is the CPL 2026 final being played?
At Kensington Oval in Barbados, which will host all four playoff fixtures, including the final.
Follow Every CPL 2026 Roster Move
Local squads are confirmed. Overseas picks come next. Bookmark this page — as each franchise finalises its full 17-player roster before August 8, this will be your go-to reference for everything CPL 2026.
