The 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPLT20) or for sponsorship reasons, Hero CPL 2020 was the eighth season of the Caribbean Premier League, the domestic Twenty20cricket league played in the West Indies. All matches were played in Trinidad and Tobago. The tournament started on 18 August and ended on 10 September 2020.[1][2] On 10 July 2020, the local government gave its approval for the tournament to go ahead, with all the matches taking place at two venues behind closed doors.[3] The full schedule for the tournament was confirmed on 27 July 2020.[4] On 6 August 2020, an official press release stated that all players, officials and administrators involved in the league had tested negative on arrival ahead of a two weeks quarantine period.[5]
Unlike the previous edition of the tournament, the playoffs had two semi-finals and a final, and not the eliminator matches, which gave teams two chances to reach the final.[6] The Trinbago Knight Riders were the first team to qualify for the playoffs,[7] and were joined by the St Lucia Zouks.[8] The Guyana Amazon Warriors became the third team to reach the playoffs, after beating the St Lucia Zouks by seven wickets.[9] On 3 September 2020, the Guyana Amazon Warriors beat the Barbados Tridents by six wickets. The result meant that the Barbados Tridents were eliminated from the tournament, with the Jamaica Tallawahs taking the fourth and final place in the playoffs.[10] The Trinbago Knight Riders finished top of the group stage, winning all ten of their matches.[11]
In the first semi-final, the Trinbago Knight Riders beat the Jamaica Tallawahs by nine wickets to advance to the final of the tournament.[12] The St Lucia Zouks won their semi-final by 10 wickets, after the Guyana Amazon Warriors were bowled out for 55 runs, the second-lowest team total in the CPL.[13] In the final, the Trinbago Knight Riders beat the St Lucia Zouks by eight wickets to win their fourth CPL title.[14]
COVID-19 safety measures
As per the agreement between the CPL and the Trinidad and Tobago government, all overseas players, team personnel, and other tournament personnel were required to self-isolate for two weeks before entering the country and two weeks after. All overseas players and personnel will be tested for COVID-19 before departure, 7 days after arrival, and 14 days after arrival.[15] All overseas players and personnel have to enter Trinidad and Tobago no later than two weeks before the start of the tournament.[16] Due to Trinidad and Tobago's lockdown rules, individuals may only enter the country on charter flights. The CPL organized a number of charter flights from various locations around the world to bring players to Trinidad and Tobago.[16] Following their arrival, all overseas players and personnel will be staying in a bubble at the Hilton Hotel in Port-of-Spain and will only leave for CPL matches.[15] Trinidad-based players and staff will be entering the bubble the week of 10 August following mandatory testing.[17]
The St. Lucia Zouks and the Trinbago Knight Riders were the first teams allowed to start training, being able to do so from 11 August.[17] On 12 August 2020, Ramnaresh Sarwan, the Jamaica Tallawahs assistant coach, left the bio-secure bubble for personal reasons.[18]
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy hosted the first ten and the last ten league matches, along with all the matches in the playoffs. The remaining fixtures took place at Queen's Park Oval.[30]
Trinbago Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field.
Rain stopped play during St Lucia Zouks' innings. Trinbago Knight Riders were set a revised target of 72 runs from 9 overs.
Pravin Tambe (Trinbago Knight Riders) became the first Indian cricketer to play in the CPL.[35]
Dwayne Bravo (Trinbago Knight Riders) became the first bowler to take 500 wickets in T20 cricket, and the first bowler to take 100 wickets in the CPL.[36]
