September 16, 2025 – Tonight, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons enter the CPL playoffs, an extraordinary milestone for a franchise only in its second year. What once seemed a distant ambition has become a proud reality: the Falcons are soaring with the Caribbean’s best, carrying the hopes of a nation into the knockout stage.
Falcons Chief Executive Officer Jeff Miller captured the moment best: “It’s an amazing feeling for the franchise to be in its first CPL playoff tournament. The players and support staff have done an incredible job, and we are all very excited.”
Miller explained that this achievement is not a matter of chance, but the result of vision and careful preparation. “Upon arrival in Antigua and Barbuda, the franchise initiated the development of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan. The plan focuses on creating a strong and recognizable brand to establish the franchise’s identity within the local and international sports community. Team performance is prioritized, with objectives set to elevate the competitive level of the franchise and ensure sustained success on the field. Enhancing spectator involvement is also a key component, aiming to foster fan engagement and participation throughout the five-year period.”
The Falcons’ debut season in 2024 was a baptism by fire. They learned, stumbled, and regrouped. This year, the talons have been sharpened, fuelled by record-breaking crowds at home and strengthened by lessons learned on the road. Into the playoffs comes a squad that not only competes but commands respect.
Cricket’s Place in Antiguan Life
In Antigua and Barbuda, cricket is more than a sport; it is a unifying force across generations, politics, and religion. From the golden legacy of Sir Anderson Roberts and Sir Vivian Richards to today’s packed CPL nights, cricket has bound our community together through triumphs and trials.
It is also a central part of the nation’s growing sports tourism sector, drawing visitors beyond the tagline “where land and sea make beauty.” As home to Cricket West Indies and an emerging hub of academies, coaching clinics, and training programmes, Antigua is shaping sports careers on and off the field. The 2025 Falcons’ season serves as quality fuel to highlight how cricket continues to inspire, empower, and create opportunity.
A Carnival of Cricket
This season, the Falcons turned every home game into a carnival: the cacophony of steel pan and iron bands, the energy of the party stand, the crowds roaring with pride and vendors plying their trade in colourful splendour. The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was not only a fortress for Antiguan and Barbudan pride, but also a meeting ground for the wider Caribbean. Opposing franchises often enjoyed strong support thanks to the significant numbers from their home countries resident in Antigua. On any given night, the stands were painted in mixed colours: Falcons’ gold flying alongside the Amazon Warriors’ red, the Kings’ blue, or the Knight Riders’ maroon. This blend of national pride and diaspora passion transformed each game into more than cricket; it became a festival of identity and belonging.
Eyes on the Prize
Reaching the playoffs in year two is more than just sports. It is a statement to remind naysayers and critics that small nations like Antigua and Barbuda can build, compete, and thrive at the highest level. For young boys and girls, the Falcons are proof that dreams can take flight.
Tonight’s playoffs will be the toughest test yet, but the Falcons have already achieved something priceless: respect. The same diaspora-driven energy that filled Sir Viv during the season now carries into the playoffs, turning the stadium into a crossroads of Caribbean pride stitched together by cricket.
A win will keep the door of destiny open. Still, even without it, this playoff appearance is proof that Antigua and Barbuda is continuing to strengthen its place as an indelible stakeholder of Caribbean cricket’s future.