The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has introduced a new incentive scheme to recognise the hard work and dedication of ground staff at host venues across the region.
Each venue will receive a cash reward of US$5 000, to be shared amongst the ground staff, acknowledging their pivotal role in preparing top-quality pitches and outfields that contribute to the excitement of the tournament.
Michael Hall, CPL’s Tournament Operations Director, underscored the importance of ground conditions in shaping the outcome of matches. “One of the many ways that cricket is so unique is the reliance on ground conditions for how the match unfolds,” he remarked. “The ground staff teams across CPL venues work tirelessly to produce the best possible facilities for the cricketers who take part in our league. I am very pleased that we can find a way to reward this hard work with this incentive scheme.”
The incentive will be awarded based on a set of criteria, including the presentation, overall appearance of the pitch square and outfield, as well as the performance of the pitches during that leg of the competition.
Key factors for evaluation will include the consistency of pace and bounce, the quality of the outfield, and the achievement of average first innings scores exceeding 160 runs.
So far in this year’s competition, 466 maximums and 619 boundaries have been hit with seven matches remaining. South African wicketkeeper batsman and Barbados Royals talisman Quinton de Kock leads the scoring charts with 426 runs from nine innings at an average of 60.85. Behind him lies St Lucia Kings’ Johnson Charles averaging 44.25 with 354 runs from nine innings. In third place, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Andre Fletcher finished his 2024 CPL campaign with 318 runs from his ten innings, averaging 31.80.
St Lucia Kings, defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals have already qualified for this year’s playoff stage with five time CPL winners Trinbago Knight Riders set to join them with a victory in either of their next two league phase matches. The Knight Riders face Barbados Royals later tonight and the defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday, September 29.
The final takes place at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on October 6th.
