by Draft day is done. Seven franchises, one historic selection event, and a tournament that just got a whole lot more interesting.
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft on Friday, May 15, wasn’t just an administrative exercise — it was the moment CPL 2026 started to feel real.
With Jamaica Kingsmen making their debut as the tournament’s newest franchise, every squad decision carried extra weight.
Which players did franchises fight to keep? Who are the young Caribbean cricketers being handed their shot?
List Of Breakout And Retained Players of CPL 2026
This is the complete List Of Breakout And Retained Players of CPL 2026 — broken down the way fans and fantasy players actually need it.
How Franchises Built Their CPL 2026 Squads?
The draft operates on a clear structure. Each local squad must include:
- A minimum of three breakout players — young, developing Caribbean cricketers from a designated pool
- Right to Match (RTM) picks — re-signing previously held players by matching any rival offer
- Retained players — direct re-signs that skip the open draft entirely
- A squad cap of 17 total players: nine senior West Indies cricketers, five overseas, three breakout minimum
For fantasy players, the RTM and retention decisions are the most useful signal. When a franchise spends an RTM card, they’re telling you exactly who they trust.
When they double-classify a player as both retained and breakout — as happened with Ackeem Auguste (Saint Lucia) and Navin Bidaisee (St Kitts) — they’re flagging a next-generation centrepiece.
Local Players Confirmed Following CPL Draft 2026
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
The Falcons have pace at the top with Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales in the same squad.
Fabian Allen’s RTM keeps its spin and lower-order hitting intact.
The breakout trio of Karima Gore, Anderson Mahase, and Joshua James adds depth and local identity.
| 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
The Tridents made the second-highest number of RTM picks in the draft. Holding Brandon King, Kadeem Alleyne, Rivaldo Clarke, Johann Layne, and Kofi James gives them a settled batting and bowling core before overseas additions even land. Jakeem Pollard is the breakout name to watch — the surname carries obvious weight in T20 cricket.
| 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
Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer form one of the most reliable batting partnerships in the CPL. Both were RTM’d, as was Romario Shepherd — the kind of late-order hitter who wins T20s on his own. Spinner Veerasammy Permaul adds experience. The breakout picks — Mavendra Dindyal, Isai Thorne, Quentin Sampson — represent Guyana’s cricket future.
| 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
The new franchise. No prior history, no inherited roster, no constraints. Jamaica Kingsmen went straight for the top of the market — Andre Russell and Rovman Powell as the heartbeat of their squad. Their lone RTM of Vitel Lawes and breakout picks of Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, and Jeavor Royal give the squad genuine Caribbean roots alongside the big names.
For fantasy players: Andre Russell in a brand-new franchise with maximum motivation is a dangerous pick to leave on the bench.
| 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
Kyle Mayers and Alick Athanaze were both RTM’d — two of the most consistent West Indies batters in current form. Jason Holder anchors the bowling. Navin Bidaisee, appearing in both the retained and breakout columns, is the player St Kitts are quietly building around for the next chapter.
| 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
Roston Chase is the local anchor. The Kings RTM’d Matthew Forde and Keon Gaston to add seam depth, while retaining Ackeem Auguste in both the direct retention and breakout categories. Amari Goodridge and Johann Jeremiah round out a breakout trio that could be among the most productive young Caribbean selections in CPL 2026.
| 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
The most decisive franchise in the draft. Trinbago Knight Riders RTM’d five players before anyone else had a chance — Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, and Terrance Hinds were never going to be available in the open pool. Retained Nathan Edward features in both the retention and breakout categories alongside Joshua Da Silva and Abdul-Raheem Toppin.
For fantasy players: TKR’s local core reads like a greatest-hits lineup. Nicholas Pooran’s form alone makes him a first-pick option for most tournament formats.
| 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, Venues, and the Opening Match
Cricket West Indies confirmed the ==schedule of the CPL 2026 season well ahead of draft day. The full picture:
- Season runs: August 8 – September 21, 2026
- Venues: Eight grounds across the Caribbean
- Tournament opener: Jamaica Kingsmen vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
- Playoffs + Final: All four matches at Kensington Oval, Barbados
The opener between two pace-heavy squads — Kingsmen with Russell, Falcons with Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales — sets an aggressive early tone.
Breakout Players to Track in CPL 2026
The mandatory breakout system has a strong track record of surfacing real talent.
These names from the 2026 class are worth following closely:
- Kirk McKenzie (Jamaica Kingsmen) — opening batter with First-Class pedigree
- Mavendra Dindyal (Guyana Amazon Warriors) — all-round potential in a squad that knows how to develop players
- Amari Goodridge (Saint Lucia Kings) — part of what could be the tournament’s most watchable young trio
- Abdul-Raheem Toppin (Trinbago Knight Riders) — breakout picks in title-contending squads get genuine opportunities
- Jakeem Pollard (Barbados Tridents) — the name alone will attract attention; the question is whether the ability matches it
FAQs
- When was the CPL 2026 player draft held?
Friday, May 15, 2026.
- What is a breakout player in CPL 2026?
A developing Caribbean cricketer selected from a mandatory pool. Every franchise must pick at least three. It’s the CPL’s built-in mechanism for giving young regional talent guaranteed professional T20 exposure each season.
- Which CPL 2026 team made the most RTM picks?
Trinbago Knight Riders, with five: Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, and Terrance Hinds.
- Do these squad lists include overseas players?
No. The lists here cover local players only, confirmed at the May 15 draft. Overseas player announcements follow separately for each franchise.
- What is the opening match of CPL 2026?
Jamaica Kingsmen vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons on August 8, 2026 — the first competitive game in Kingsmen’s history.
- Where is the CPL 2026 final?
Kensington Oval in Barbados, hosting all four playoff fixtures.
Get Ready for CPL 2026
The local squads are set. Overseas confirmations are next. Whether you’re picking your fantasy XI or just tracking your franchise, save this page — it’ll stay updated as rosters fill out ahead of August 8.
