More than likely, the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), will be played entirely in T&T as the government and CPL officials are very close to signing off the deal.
Guardian Media Sports understand from someone close to the discussions on Monday that most boxes have been ticked and it seems like the Twenty20 (T20) competition expected to start on August 19 in T&T, is a go.
The CPL is proposing double-headers for one week at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba, San Fernando and the next week, the same number of matches at the Queen's Park Oval in St Clair, Port-of-Spain and then back to BLCA until the 33 matches are completed. The final of the tournament was always carded for T&T, as has been the case for the last two editions.
The organisers are proposing to create a bio-secure environment at the Hilton Trinidad for players and officials and all protocols concerning the COVID-19 regulations are expected to be met.
With the Caribbean not badly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the tournament may well contain only regional players and no internationals. Also, no spectators will be allowed in the stands as the matches will be played behind closed doors.
Originally, CPL organisers hinted that they may have played the tournament in two or three countries. There has been a change of heart and T&T has now been given the opportunity to take the entire tournament.
Up to Friday, there were just some minor details to be worked out and Guardian Media Sports understand that this has been done and an announcement is expected by Friday of this week.
Trinidad has dealt with the virus situation brilliantly and has the capability of staging the entire tournament with the two World-class venues. In addition to being an economic shot in the arm for T&T, the owners of the tournament also stand to get financial ease, by hosting the tournament in just one country.
The logistics of hosting the tournament among six Caribbean countries have been testing since the inception of the tournament in 2013.
It is understood that the government has welcomed the proposal and a lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes to get the tournament on.
Once it comes off the massive viewership that is expected due to the fact that it will be the first T20 franchise tournament to be played since COVID-19 took over the globe, will work to T&T's advantage.
CPL is expected to announce the date for the draft once they get the go-ahead that the tournament is taking place. So far all six franchise teams have announced their Caribbean retentions.