REPUBLIC BANK CPL LAUNCHES CPL NEXT GEN CRICKET CLINICS IN BARBADOS, CULMINATING IN KENSINGTON OVAL SHOWCASE
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will launch CPL Next Gen, a new grassroots cricket initiative in Barbados, delivering six clinic sessions across three days before a televised T10 showcase match at the iconic Kensington Oval on 11 September 2026.
Running from Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 September at the Franklyn Stephenson Cricket Academy the clinics will welcome 100 young cricketers aged 11 to 14, nominated by schools from across the island. Each session combines fielding technique and decision-making under pressure, catching and throwing practice, rotational batting stations, and live net sessions offering match-realistic batting and bowling repetitions. Coaches will also work with participants on discipline and conduct, reinforcing professional standards alongside cricket skills.
Academy coaches will assess technique and potential throughout the three days, with the 22 standout performers selected to progress to the CPL Next Gen Showcase Match. That fixture will be played at Kensington Oval on 11 September and broadcast as part of Republic Bank CPL programming and across the league's social channels. Beyond the clinic, participating players will be signposted into Barbados Cricket Association affiliated clubs, continuing their development along a pathway that leads through CPL's regional Breakout League toward the men's and women's Republic Bank CPL tournaments.
CPL Next Gen forms part of Republic Bank CPL's ongoing commitment to grassroots development across the Caribbean, widening the base of young talent and building a clear route from school cricket to the professional game. The programme reflects the league's focus on community outreach, encouraging greater participation in the sport while strengthening its presence at grassroots level across the region.
Michael Hall, Tournament Operations Director, said: "CPL Next Gen is about clearing a genuine pathway for the most talented and committed generation of new cricketers coming through right here in Barbados. Every young player who walks onto the field at Franklyn Stephenson Cricket Academy this September has a real route ahead of them, into BCA clubs, into regional cricket, and ultimately into the Republic Bank CPL itself. We can't wait to see what this generation does with that opportunity!"
As Republic Bank CPL continues to grow and expand its footprint across the Caribbean, initiatives such as CPL Next Gen underline the tournament's growing global appeal and its standing as one of the region's premier T20 leagues, while offering young Barbadian cricketers a genuine pathway toward the professional stage.
