Saturday, June 6, 2026
Saturday, June 6, 2026
CPL 2026: Keemo Paul targets fresh start with Jamaica Kingsmen
By Akeem Greene
Keemo Paul is ready to embrace a new home as after a near decade-long association with the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the 28-year-old allrounder is heading north to join the newly formed Jamaica Kingsmen for the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), eyeing both a personal renaissance and a steady run of game time.
Paul’s move marks another poignant departure of the 2026 draft, as aside from a lone, seven-match stint with the Saint Lucia Kings in 2021, Paul has been synonymous with the Providence-based franchise.
Between 2017 and 2025, he played 71 matches for the Amazon Warriors, picking up 41 wickets and scoring 657 runs across 49 innings, often serving as their premier domestic fast-bowling allrounder.
“I want to say thank you to the Guyana Amazon Warriors for giving me the opportunity to represent the franchise over the past few seasons,” Paul told News Room Sport, shortly after the rosters were finalised.
“I truly appreciate it. Moving on to Jamaica, this brings a new environment and the Kingsmen have put their trust in me. I just want to go there and perform to the best of my ability.”
For a time, Paul was viewed as the future of the West Indies’ multi-format bowling-allrounder stock, possessing a deceptively sharp bouncer, a potent slower ball, and lower-order hitting power.
However, his once-blossoming career has repeatedly been pulled back by a stubborn spat of injuries that stunted his international continuity and left him on the fringes of T20 team sheets.
The road back has been gruelling, but the physical dividends are finally showing. Though CPL is a T20 blitz, Paul’s optimism is rooted in the heavy workloads he has endured in the ongoing Regional Four-Day competition.
Turning out for the Guyana Harpy Eagles, Paul has looked in arguably his best physical touch in years. He has bowled with high intensity, found genuine swing with the new ball, and chipped in with vital runs in the lower-middle order.
“I have been playing Four-Day cricket this year and I am feeling really good,” Paul said.
“I’m really excited to be with a new franchise and hopefully, I get more playing opportunities and become an asset to the team. I am really looking forward to the CPL as my cricket is getting back to where I want it to be. I certainly want to thank the Jamaica Kingsmen for this opportunity.”
The Kingsmen are preparing for their inaugural season in the CPL, which is scheduled to run from August 7 to September 20.
While their local roster is distinctly headlined by the Jamaican powerhouse duo of Andre Russell and Rovman Powell, the addition of a fit, firing Paul gives them immense tactical flexibility.
The franchise has built a squad with a blend of explosive depth and emerging local talent, including Odean Smith, Kirk McKenzie, and Jeavor Royal.
The team’s final look will take shape shortly, as CPL franchises have a few more weeks to finalise and announce their overseas signings.
Jamaica Kingsmen Squad (Caribbean players): Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Keacy Carty, Jediah Blades, Shaqkere Parris, Vitel Lawes, Romaine Morris, Kirk McKenzie, Kelvin Pitman, Jeavor Royal
