Mottley calls hosting CPL final a triumph

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Following the conclusion of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final at the iconic Kensington Oval, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has declared the hosting of the event a resounding success, signalling her government’s intention to bid for future finals while calling for greater regional investment in the sport.

Speaking to the media after the match, Mottley expressed pride in Barbados’s ability to stage the marquee event, noting that the island is eager to remain a key hub for Caribbean cricket.

“We’re not greedy, but we’re going to be in the mix, even if not next year, in the near future,” Mottley said of the hosting rights.

“So I know that other countries have been speaking, and we will work with them. But as I said, this is something that unites the region, and once we get the ability for people to travel and move easily, then I think you’re going to see a lot more Caribbean people moving for CPL cricket.”

The prime minister emphasised that the success of the tournament depends heavily on tangible support rather than hope.

She outlined her administration’s commitment to grass-roots and high-performance development, revealing that plans for a new high-performance centre are already under way.

“You have to invest. You cannot stand by and just see things and hope, by serendipity, that things will happen,” she asserted. “I’m happy that the money that we’re putting into the high-performance centre, we’re moving on that now.”

Mottley highlighted the broader significance of sport in shaping the region’s youth, describing Caribbean athletes and artistes as “global citizens” with deep local roots.

“I really, really want, as I said, to be able to make the investment in our young people because as we’ve always said, global citizens, Bajan roots, global citizens, Caribbean roots,” she stated.

Acknowledging the economic challenges the region has faced over the past decade, Mottley reaffirmed that cricket remains a priority for her government.

“Clearly, the last decade or two has not been easy for the country. But despite that, we still found time to prioritise because we understand what cricket means to Bajans and to Caribbean people,” she concluded.

Mottley’s comments serve as a rallying call for other Caribbean nations to follow suit, ensuring that the sport continues to thrive through strategic government investment and regional cooperation.