The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) found itself in a brand name controversy yesterday after Dwayne Bravo, captain of the Red Steel slammed the decision to remove the Trinidad and Tobago brand from the name.
The LCPL is a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket competition which began last year with the six competing teams carrying the names of the countries in which they are based. Teams however are made up of players from various Caribbean territories and further overseas.
The second season of the League started here on Friday.
But it was only yesterday at the National Cricket Stadium here, when he went out to spin the toss for his team’s first match against the Barbados Tridents—captained by his T&T colleague Kieron Pollard—that Bravo was officially told of the name change.
He was not pleased.
“I got some news this morning and I was very disappointed to hear that Trinidad and Tobago has been removed from the Red Steel team,†he announced to the media in a post-match news conference following his side’s seven-wicket victory. Bravo went a lot further.
“I think whoever made that decision, it’s uncalled for. Ninety per cent of the team are from Trinidad and Tobago. We are using the national colours. All the other islands are proud to use their country’s name, whether it is the Barbados Tridents, the Jamaica Tallawahs, why not Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel?
In the team that played yesterday, six of the 11 were T&T nationals.
An emotional Bravo added: “I play a lot, heart and soul for Trinidad and Tobago. I’ve done a lot for my country and will continue to do so. The people in the front are the ones who are gonna suffer the most to know that our country (name) has been removed and at the end of the day, we are representing Trinidad and Tobago and that brand is very important for me, and I’m going to continue to use Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel team.â€
Bravo also said his “players are very disappointed...Everyone is disappointed.â€
Asked whether he knew who had made the decision, Bravo said he did not.
However, the LPCL confirmed to the Sunday Express by e-mail that the request for the removal of the Trinidad and Tobago name from the Red Steel franchise had come from the Minister of Sport, Anil Roberts; a fact Roberts also confirmed yesterday.
Bravo yesterday however, was firm in his feelings.
“Maybe I might get in trouble for it, but so be it. I believe it’s the right way... Every time I am leading this team, I’m going to use Trinidad and Tobago and ensure that my country gets full mileage from this big international tournament...
“Whoever made the decision, call them a bunch of jokers. There are other things they should be taking on and studying.â€
Bravo was also confident that when the Red Steel get to Trinidad for three “home†games, that the public would get behind the side.
“We know our fans are going to come out and support us no matter what the situation is... I mean, when you look at the IPL, you have Chennai Super Kings, you have Mumbai Indians. Not all the players are from Mumbai; not all the players from Chennai; NBA, Miami Heat, not everybody from Miami, so what is the big deal?
“At the end of the day, people need to understand it’s sport. Move on.†•
