The St Lucia Zouks have changed their name to the St Lucia Kings for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League season.
The club was bought last year by K.P.H. Dream Cricket Private Limited, a company that also controls Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, and will now have shared branding and assets “as the ownership team aims to further strengthen relations between the two brands.”
According to a CPL release, “this synergy will assist build on the team’s triumphs since the new owners came, after they finished as runners-up at last year’s Hero CPL tournament.”
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – AUGUST 27: Zahir Khan (L) and Darren Sammy (R) of St Lucia Zouks celebrate the dismissal of Jahmar Hamilton of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots during the Hero Caribbean Premier League match 15 between St Lucia Zouks and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at Queen’s Park Oval on August 27, 2020 in Port of Spain, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)
Daren Sammy, a former marquee player who will serve as an assistant coach for the upcoming season, expressed excitement about the rebranding.
The former Zouks and West Indies T20 captain stated, “I love the logo and I love the new moniker.”
“It’s an honour to be linked with the Kings franchise, and I sincerely hope that the name will encourage our players to perform like true Kings.”
The Zouks have struggled throughout the CPL’s history, making it to the semi-finals in 2016 before losing in the final last year against the Trinbago Knight Riders.
In a tumultuous season, they went winless, suffering nine defeats and a no-result.
South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz, and the West Indies’ Andre Fletcher and Rahkeem Cornwall will all play this year, giving the franchise a boost.
From August 26 until September 15, the CPL competition will be held in St Kitts.