Knight Riders to field their first ever Women's Team under TKR banner in CPL 2022

CPL Media Release + TKR Player Reactions

The local players have been drafted ahead of the historic first running of the inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premier League with the tournament set to get underway on 30 August.

The three teams will be captained by Deandra Dottin (Trinbago Knight Riders), Hayley Matthews (Barbados Royals), and Stafanie Taylor (Guyana Amazon Warriors).

With Dottin one of the most destructive batters in the women’s game, and Matthews and Taylor rated in the top 10 T20 all-rounders in the world, all three players have shown their quality for the West Indies and in domestic competitions around the globe.

The teams have been drafted from a pool of players that was put together by Cricket West Indies’ selection committee and the 33 cricketers picked represent the best talent from across the region with the squads full of experienced internationals as well as the next generation of female players.

The TKR Mens Team members reacted to the announcement, welcoming the ladies who are going to turn up in the team's Red and Black jersey this year for the first time.

Kieron Pollard, the captain said: “For the first time, Knight Riders have a women’s team in the CPL. I would like to wish them all the best and we look forward to welcoming you to the family. We are TKR!”

Nicholas Pooran: “Welcome to TKR, ladies. This is a great step towards making the game even more popular in the Caribbean. All the best, ladies. We are TKR!”

Sunil Narine, the TKR vice captain, said: “I would like to welcome the TKR women’s team to the Knight Riders Family. All the best! We are TKR!”

Andre Russell, who will join TKR this year, said: “Knight Riders fans, get ready for sixes and wickets from the ladies! Welcome to the family, We are TKR!”

Akeal Hosein, one of the most consistent performers for West Indies in recent matches, said: “The TKR women’s team looks so strong, and we look forward to seeing them do well in the CPL. All the best, We are TKR!”

Each team will also sign three exciting overseas players bringing the total squad size to 14 and further bolstering the quality of cricketers on show in this exciting new event. These overseas signings will be announced in the coming weeks.

Venky Mysore, Director, Trinbago Knight Riders, said, "We are proud to announce our first women's team under the Knight Riders banner, and are eagerly looking forward to watching the ladies represent TKR in the inaugural Women’s T20 competition in this year's Caribbean Premier League. We are always most supportive of such initiatives and are on a continuous lookout to expand the sport across the globe and across demographics. We are therefore particularly thrilled to support the launch of women’s T20 in the Caribbean and would like to congratulate and thank CWI and CPL for taking the initiative to launch the Women’s editions this year."

Ricky Skerritt, Cricket West Indies President, said: “This inaugural Women’s version of the CPL represents a huge upward step for West Indies cricket. I am grateful to all those in CPL and CWI who made it happen, especially the three pioneering franchises who have so willingly got on board.”

Jake Lush McCrum, CEO, Barbados Royals and Rajasthan Royals, said: "The Caribbean and particularly Barbados is a destination which has always been so deeply invested in cricket, and to have a team in the region which will serve as a pillar of growth for the women's game in and around the island nation, was such an exciting opportunity for us at the Barbados Royals. Having attracted huge popularity, not just in the Caribbean, but also in cricket-playing nations around the world, the CPL has been able to realise its value and also the impact it can create on grassroots development. With this new competition for women, it gives us the opportunity to accelerate the growth and development of female players and coaches, while attracting the next generation of talent to the sport."

Dr. Bobby Ramroop, owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, said, “We are thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Women’s CPL. The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) family is excited to be at the forefront of advancing Women’s cricket, both in the region and worldwide, and we are hopeful that this newest format will provide a platform for empowering female athletes, as well as highlighting inspiring role models for young girls. The dynamic GAW Women’s team, led by the impressive Stafanie Taylor, is a welcome and powerful addition to the CPL.”

Pete Russell, Hero CPL’s CEO, said: “A Women’s CPL is the next logical step as we grow the brand, and we are very pleased that we have been able to make this a reality in 2022. We are grateful to the CWI, the Barbados Royals, the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Trinbago Knight Riders for working with us on this ground breaking tournament and we look forward to showcasing the tremendous skills of all  these talented players.”

The full teams for the first Women’s CPL are as follows:

C – Captain
VC – Vice-captain