There will be a franchise based in St. Lucia playing at the 2019 Hero CPL but it will not bear the St. Lucia Stars name.
Owners of the CPL on Saturday issed a news release which stated that: "On 7 August 2019, CPL Limited terminated the participation agreement between it and Royal Sports Club, LLC, the entity that operated the St Lucia Stars franchise. As a result of that termination, Royal Sports Club, LLC no longer has the right to operate a team to compete in the Caribbean Premier League tournament and the St Lucia Stars will not be participating in the 2019 Caribbean Premier League, which begins on September 4, 2019.
"CPL Limited is in the process of establishing and operating a new franchise to be based in St Lucia that will participate in the 2019 Caribbean Premier League. More information about that new franchise will follow in due course. CPL Limited will be making no further public comment at this time."
Guardian Media Sports understands that negotiations have been ongoing with new owners and CPL will oversee a transition that will ensure the players selected at the draft for the Stars, are included in the new set up.
“CPL Limited is in the process of establishing and operating a new franchise to be based in St Lucia that will participate in the 2019 Caribbean Premier League,” the statement continued.
The Philadelphia-based Royal Sports Club, headed by Jay Pandya, was announced as owners of the franchise three years ago in what CPL at the time hailed as a “landmark day” for the operations.
Then known as St Lucia Zouks, the franchise name was changed to St Lucia Stars the following year, and they subsequently ensured a nightmare winless campaign losing nine of their 10 matches.
Popular national figure and two-time T20 World Cup-winning skipper, Darren Sammy, was sacked as captain that season and last year, Kieron Pollard left Barbados Tridents to lead the franchise.
With Pollard departing for his native Trinbago Knight Riders for the upcoming season, Sammy was expected to lead the Stars once again.
(CMC)