Barbados Royals will relaunch as Barbados Tridents, the foundation name of the Caribbean Premier League franchise, ahead of the 2026 season. The move comes on the back of the announcement of the “One Barbados” partnership between the Government of Barbados and Royals Sports Group, the parent company of the Barbados franchise.
The Tridents were one of the six original franchises of the CPL when it was launched in 2013, and went on to lift two titles in 2014 and 2019. After the Royals Sports Group bought a majority stake in the Tridents ahead of the 2021 season, the franchise had rechristened as Barbados Royals and have played under the name for five years, including three seasons of the Women’s CPL.
A release from the Tridents stated that the three-year One Barbados partnership “intended to be part of a much larger national movement” that highlights the franchise as a “year-round national asset”, bringing a public and private entity together with the island country set to celebrate its 60th year of independence on November 30.
The two entities have also agreed in principle to the Government of Barbados becoming a minority co-investor in the franchise, although relevant approvals are still pending.
“The return to the Barbados Tridents reflects our confidence, our pride and our ambition as a nation, as we begin to chart the path towards our next 60 years. Cricket has long been a core pillar of our national identity and self-determination. As such, it is incredibly fitting that through his partnership, we will see ourselves represented, in our national colours, with a name that speaks to who we are,” Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said of the One Barbados partnership.
While the Royals have sported pink, the Tridents will return to sporting the national colours of Barbados – ultramarine, golden yellow and black. However, the franchise will continue to embrace the colour pink, besides hosting a dedicated “Pink Promise” charity match during the CPL season to raise funds for charitable causes.
