Mallya meets with Barbados PM as Tridents takeover looms

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Indian millionaire businessman Vijay Mallya, has met with Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart as he continues to inch closer to his purchase of Caribbean Premier League franchise, Barbados Tridents.

The 60-year-old Mallya chatted with Stuart during a courtesy call at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Ilaro Court, where the two discussed issues pertaining to Caribbean cricket.

A Government Information Service media release said Stuart assured Mallya during the meeting that any investment in Barbados Tridents would be a good one.

There has been wide speculation over the last month that Mallya is preparing to buy the Bridgetown-based Tridents franchise.

Last month, he denied any such purchase but said he was exploring the CPL business model.

During the meeting with Stuart, Mallya said he appreciated the role Barbados played in West Indies cricket. According to the GIS release, he said cricket was changing and the future of the game would rest on the T20 format.

Tridents are one of the most well-known franchises in the CPL, winning the 2014 edition of the tournament and subsequently participating in the Champions League Twenty20 in India.

The franchise boasts the likes of Indian Premier League stars Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith, along with West Indies Test and one-day captain Jason Holder.

Mallya already has major investment in T20 cricket as chairman of the UB Group which owns Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The UB Group is a multibillion-dollar company based in Bangalore, and is India’s largest beer producer.