AHEAD of the upcoming season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Royals Sports Group (EM Sporting Holdings Ltd)-owned franchise Barbados Royals yesterday announced former New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori as the team’s new head coach.

The two-time CPL champions also announced the signing of New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips as an overseas recruit ahead of the 2021 season of the league set to begin August 26, 2021.
The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman represents Auckland domestically in New Zealand, and has 506 runs to his name in 25 T20Is with a strike rate of 149.70 since making his debut for the national team in 2017.

Commenting on the development, co-owner of Barbados Royals, Manish Patel, said: “This is an exciting phase for all of us associated with the Barbados Royals, and to have a cricketing brain like Daniel assist the team as the head coach is a step forward for all of us. He ticks all the boxes when it comes to guiding the team both on and off the field, and we are delighted to have him on board.”

Royals Sports Group CEO Mike Fordham expressed his delight and said, “We are extremely pleased to have a legendary cricketer like Daniel join us at the Barbados Royals.
“He has spent over a decade in coaching through stints around the world, and we believe he is the perfect candidate to guide this exciting team forward and fulfil our ambitions for the upcoming season. We welcome Glenn Phillips as the newest member of our Royals family and hope that he can contribute to a very successful season for the franchise.”

Speaking at his appointment, Daniel Vettori said, “I’m delighted to be taking over as the head coach of the Barbados Royals. With the brand that they are building, and the ambitions that the team has, it felt like the right move for me, and I’m really looking forward to working with the whole group working along with Jason leading from the front.”

Jason Holder-led Barbados Royals will start their CPL campaign on August 26, 2021 against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, with this season’s final scheduled to take place on 15th September 2021. (Barbados Today)