Bridgetown: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are Caribbean Premier League champions, sealing their maiden title with an eight-wicket demolition of Jamaica Kingsmen in the final at Kensington Oval on September 20.
The Final
Jamaica Kingsmen posted 170/9 after Maaz Sadaqat’s breathtaking 114 off 58 balls — eight fours, nine sixes, strike rate 196.55. It was the first century in a CPL final, but Sadaqat received minimal support; Saim Ayub’s 29 was the next best. Sufyan Moqim’s 4/14 strangled the innings at the death.
The Falcons’ chase was a masterclass in composure. Amir Jangoo anchored with an unbeaten 57 off 34, Hasan Nawaz smashed 47 not out off 35, and the target was hunted down in just 16.4 overs with 20 balls to spare. Moeen Ali lifted the trophy in his first season as captain.
Top Performers
Quinton de Kock finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 392 runs in 11 innings at 43.56, becoming the first overseas batter since Colin Munro in 2018 to top the CPL charts. Shimron Hetmyer (367 runs at a strike rate of 197.31) and the 21-year-old Sadaqat (363 runs in just 7 innings) completed the top three.
The wicket charts were a four-way tie at 16 apiece: Imran Tahir, Hunain Shah, Alzarri Joseph and Matthew Forde. Shadab Khan’s all-round brilliance earned him Player of the Series.
What It Means
The Falcons’ triumph adds a seventh name to the CPL champions’ list and caps a remarkable turnaround for the franchise. For West Indies cricket, the emergence of Sadaqat and the form of Hetmyer offer genuine encouragement ahead of the T20 World Cup cycle.
Season of Breakthroughs
Beyond the champions, CPL 2026 belonged to emerging talent. Maaz Sadaqat’s 363 runs in seven innings announced a special player — two hundreds including that final century, at a strike rate of 174.52. Kamil Pooran’s 273 runs earned a maiden West Indies T20I call-up for the India tour. For a region constantly searching for the next generation, these are precious signs.
Shadab Khan’s Player of the Series award recognised all-round excellence that underpinned the Falcons’ campaign. At 27, the Pakistan leg-spinner remains one of T20 cricket’s most complete cricketers.
What Comes Next
Warwickshire’s ninth title puts them among the Championship’s most successful clubs. With Durham and Kent arriving in Division One and Hampshire and Leicestershire departing, 2027 promises fresh dynamics. The production line of England talent — from Gay’s breakthrough to Bamber’s wicket hauls — keeps the Championship relevant as ever.
For the relegated sides, the rebuild starts immediately. Hampshire’s batting woes and Leicestershire’s points deduction saga will dominate their off-seasons.
