Women's match to kick off CPL 2022 on August 31; Patriots, Tallawahs face off in men's opener
Unlike last year when all matches were hosted at a single venue, the men's edition this season will be played in four venues
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Jul-2022
Fans will be back once again in the CPL after their absence in 2021 • Getty Images
The 2022 edition of the CPL is set to kick off with the inaugural match of the women's tournament - the WCPL - between Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Royals on August 31 in St Kitts and Nevis.
This match will be followed by the opening game of the men's edition on the same day at the same venue, where defending champions St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will take on Jamaica Tallawahs.
The three-team WCPL - Guyana Amazon Warriors being the third team - will be played across four afternoons in St Kitts and Nevis during double-header days before the men's fixtures in the evening and will end in a final on September 4. Unlike last year when all the matches were hosted at a single venue, the men's edition this season will be played in Trinidad & Tobago, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis and Guyana, with the impact of Covid-19 on the wane.
St Kitts and Nevis will host seven men's games before the teams will move to St Lucia for eight matches. Thereafter, the competition shifts to Trinidad for eight more fixtures before ending in Guyana with seven league-stage games and the three playoffs, followed by the final on September 30.
The 2022 edition will also see fans return to the stadium, unlike the previous edition which was played behind closed doors.
"It is very exciting to be able to confirm the fixtures for this season with this announcement being all the more special with the WCPL taking place for the first time in 2022," CPL CEO Pete Russell said. "We can't wait to be back travelling around the Caribbean and we are looking forward to welcoming our wonderful fans back into the stadiums across the region."
The CPL, now in its tenth season, will start just after Cricket West Indies' (CWI) new competition 6ixty ends on August 28. The 60 ball-per-side tournament, predominantly a T10 match but with several notable differences, will feature matches between all six men's franchises and the three women's teams. Recently, Chris Gayle opted out of CPL 2022, and said he will instead turn his focus to 6ixty.
Knight Riders are the most successful team in the competition, winning three of the first nine seasons. Royals and Tallawahs will be looking to win their respective third titles in CPL 2022 while Patriots will be aiming to defend their maiden win in 2021. Warriors and Kings are yet to win a CPL championship.