The Caribbean Premier League has unveiled its Player Acquisition and Draft Rules for 2026, launching a new three-year contract cycle and welcoming a seventh franchise into the mix.
Each of the seven Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League squads will field 17 players, nine senior West Indies players, five overseas signings, and three Breakout Players.
New to the league, the Jamaica Kingsmen receive special draft privileges, getting the first three picks, restricted to Jamaican players only, with those selections immune to the Right to Match Option.
Speaking of the RMO, existing franchises start with four each, giving teams the power to retain players poached by rivals. Any team that loses a player to the Kingsmen gets a bonus RMO.
The draft order beyond that follows the 2025 standings and each team must include at least one Breakout Player in every matchday eleven.
Overseas players, capped at four per matchday, are signed directly and sit outside the draft entirely.
Draft selections will be announced via CPL’s social media platforms on Friday, May 15th.