Following a thrilling opening weekend for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014, Chalak Mitra Group (CMG) has been announced as the new franchise owners of reigning Limacol CPL champions Jamaica Tallawahs.
The CMG was founded by a group of entrepreneurs from India who are passionate about cricket. The group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, owns and operates restaurant concepts across America, including one of the largest KFC franchises in the country, as well as raising private equity capital for strategic growth and acquisition initiatives.
The group is no stranger to sport, as through its restaurant businesses, it has sponsorship deals with NBA teams Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, as well as several initiatives at collegiate and grassroots level.
"We're delighted to become the new owners of the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise," said Manish Patel, chairman and president of CMG.
"As a group, we are passionate about cricket, and after seeing the success of the CPL last year, we knew this was something we wanted to be a part of. The unique and vibrant culture of Jamaica drew us towards the Tallawahs, and given that Indo-Jamaican culture has flourished for many years, we knew it was the right choice. We can't wait to get involved with the team and become a part of the Jamaican community," he added.
The Tallawahs emerged as champions of the inaugural Limacol CPL last year, and on Saturday set the stage for an exciting second season with a first-game win over the St Lucia Zouks, with Tallawahs Captain Chris Gayle scoring the first-ever CPL century.
Grenada, known for its vibrant culture and hospitality, served as the opening venue to showcase the region's most exciting domestic Twenty20 tournament, which sees global stars, including Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Kevin Pietersen, and Mohammad Hafeez taking part in the 'Biggest Party in Sport'.
"It's a testament to the strength of the CPL and the Jamaica Tallawahs that we are able to welcome such a respected new franchise owner," said Damien O'Donohoe, CEO, CPL. "CMG is a hugely successful organisation with vast experience and a passion for sport. We're looking forward to working with them as they help us reinforce the success of the CPL and develop new audiences for the Biggest Party in Sport."
The Jamaica Tallawahs play their next match against the Antigua Hawksbills at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday.
