Cricket West Indies and the Caribbean Premier League on Wednesday, June 22 announced a new format in which teams will play 60-ball per innings and with 6 wickets. The inaugural edition of 6IXTY will be held in St Kitts & Nevis from August 24 to 28
The Caribbean Premier League’s 10th season will start with a brand new T10-style league which will see 6 men’s teams and 3 women’s teams participate in a 60-balls-a-side tournament with “radical new rules”.
CPL made the announcement on social media through posts and a teaser video that featured West Indies legend Chris Gayle. The league has been named 6IXTY.
In ‘The 6ixty’ a total of six men’s teams – St. Lucia Kings, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados Royals, Trinbago Knight Riders, Jamaica Tallawahs, and St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots – will be participating. Also, three women’s teams –Trinbago, Barbados and Guyana – will take part in the inaugural edition of the T10 tournament.
The rules of the tournament are very different as the batting teams will only have six wickets rather than 10 wickets.
Also, the mandatory powerplay will be of two overs and the batting team can also unlock a floating third-over powerplay by smashing two sixes in the initial two overs.
Here are some of the whacky rules that the format will have, according to an ESPNCricinfo report.
1) Every batting team has six wickets in place ten in the other formats.
2) Batting teams can “unlock” a floating third powerplay over by hitting two sixes in the initial two-over powerplay
3) Teams will bowl five consecutive overs without changing an end. There will be no switching of ends after each over
4) If teams fail to bowl their 10 overs within 45 minutes, a fielder will be removed for the final six balls
5) Fans will be able to vote for a ‘mystery free hit’ via an app or website
In an official statement released by Caribbean Premier League, Ricky Skerritt, the President of Cricket West Indies, said that he is excited about the entertainment that the tournament will bring to the fans. He said:
“THE 6IXTY has come about because of a close collaboration between CPL and CWI which is the way forward. I am really excited about the innovation, excitement and entertainment that it is going to bring to the fans.”
CPL’s CEO Pete Russell, while talking about The 6ixty said that the launch of the T10 tournament is a hugely exciting moment for both CPL and Cricket West Indies. He said:
“This is a hugely exciting moment for both CPL and Cricket West Indies as we create a tournament that will see cricket fans brought closer to the game. There will be world-class men’s and women’s cricketers taking part in a fantastic event for the Caribbean and this combined with cutting-edge innovations, signals a great moment for all fans of West Indian cricket.”
60 balls, 6 men’s teams, 3 women’s teams, radical new rules. Join us as we see the CPL teams compete in @6ixtycricket #CricketsPowerGame #6ixtyCricket #CPL22 https://t.co/i8TGhUFafz
— CPL T20 (@CPL) June 22, 2022