Seven franchises. One draft day. And the biggest player pool the Caribbean Premier League has ever assembled.
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft wrapped up on Friday, May 15, with all seven teams locking in their local squads ahead of the 2026 season.
New franchise Jamaica Kingsmen made their debut on the draft floor, and every team — from Trinidad to Antigua — shaped a major section of their roster through retentions, Right to Match cards, and breakout picks.
List of Breakout and Retained Players of CPL 2026
If you’re tracking the List Of Breakout and Retained Players of CPL 2026, this is your complete reference.
Understanding the CPL 2026 Draft Structure
The draft isn’t just a free-for-all. There’s a clear framework that every franchise has to follow when assembling its local contingent:
- Squads cap at 17 players total, including nine senior West Indies cricketers, five overseas players, and at least three breakout players
- Right to Match (RTM) allows a franchise to re-sign a player they previously held, matching any rival bid
- Breakout players are a mandatory category — young Caribbean talent that the league is actively developing and protecting
That last point matters. The breakout rule isn’t a formality. It’s how the CPL keeps feeding talent into West Indian cricket.
Local Players Confirmed Following CPL Draft 2026
Below is every franchise’s confirmed local squad — broken into RTM picks, retentions, breakout selections, and the full list.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
| 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
| 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
| 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
No prior squad. No retentions. Just a blank slate and a first-ever draft for the CPL’s newest franchise. Jamaica Kingsmen made the most of it.
| 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
| 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
| 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
Five RTMs before the open draft even started. Trinbago Knight Riders made it clear they weren’t rebuilding — they were reloading.
| 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 |
CPL 2026 Season Dates and Venues
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed the ==schedule of the CPL 2026 season, well ahead of the draft.
The 14th edition of the tournament runs August 8 through September 21, played across eight venues in the Caribbean.
Jamaica Kingsmen vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons opens the tournament — a debut fixture that will draw serious attention given the star power assembled by both sides.
The playoffs and final — all four knockout matches — head to Kensington Oval in Barbados, the most storied ground in West Indian cricket.
The Draft in Perspective
A few things stand out from this year’s CPL 2026 Player Draft.
Jamaica Kingsmen entered with no history and still secured Andre Russell and Rovman Powell as the spine of their squad — two of the most destructive T20 players in world cricket.
Their breakout trio of Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, and Jeavor Royal adds youth and local authenticity.
Trinbago Knight Riders went the other way entirely — maximum continuity, five RTMs, a clear title defence mentality.
And across the board, the breakout class of 2026 is one to follow.
Mavendra Dindyal (Guyana), Amari Goodridge (Saint Lucia), Johann Jeremiah (Saint Lucia), and Abdul-Raheem Toppin (TKR) are the kinds of names that tend to emerge from CPL seasons as fully-formed T20 cricketers.
The format has a way of fast-tracking talent.
August 8 is the starting point. Between now and then, overseas squad confirmations will fill in the final picture for each team.
FAQs
- When was the CPL 2026 player draft held?
The CPL 2026 player draft took place on Friday, May 15, 2026.
- Who are the breakout players in CPL 2026?
Breakout players are young, developing Caribbean cricketers selected mandatorily by each franchise — at least three per team. Notable 2026 breakout picks include Kirk McKenzie (Jamaica Kingsmen), Mavendra Dindyal (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Amari Goodridge (Saint Lucia Kings), and Abdul-Raheem Toppin (Trinbago Knight Riders).
- Is Jamaica Kingsmen a new CPL team?
Yes. Jamaica Kingsmen are a brand-new franchise making their CPL debut in 2026, making this their first-ever player draft.
- How many games will be played in CPL 2026?
The CPL 2026 season runs from August 8 to September 21. The exact match count has not been separately confirmed in this draft announcement, but the format typically runs across six franchises with a round-robin group stage followed by playoffs.
- Which franchise made the most RTM picks in CPL 2026?
Trinbago Knight Riders led all franchises with five RTM picks: Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, and Terrance Hinds.
- Where is the CPL 2026 final being held?
The final, along with all playoff fixtures, will be hosted at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Stay Ahead of CPL 2026
The local squads are confirmed. Overseas picks will follow. Keep this page bookmarked as team rosters fill out and the season build-up begins ahead of August 8.
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