A team of experts have picked the best 12 players from the innaugral Caribbean Premier League T20 Tournament based on performance in the highly successful event. Photo: Provided

The inaugural tournament was won by Chris Gayle and the Jamaica Talawahs and was hailed as a great success around the Caribbean and the World. Photo: Provided

The side was selected by a group of individuals brought together by the Limacol CPL for their knowledge and understanding of the game and their in-depth knowledge of player performances during the tournament.

The selection panel was made up of Mike Procter, the former South Africa all-rounder and a match referee in the tournament; ex-West Indies and Jamaica wicketkeeper-batsman Jeffrey Dujon, a member of the television commentary team; Mike Haysman, the former South Australia batsman and part of the television commentary team; Craig Cozier, a journalist with extensive regional and international experience, and also a producer for the television coverage of the tournament; and Billy Bowden, Nigel Duguid, Joel Wilson and Danesh Ramdhanie – all umpires who have officiated in the Limacol CPL.

The side includes six (6) players from the finalists, the Jamaica Tallawahs and the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

2013 Limacol CPL T20 Team of the Tournament

1. Andre Fletcher (St. Lucia Zouks)

2. Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs, captain)

3. Martin Gupthill (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

4. Shoaib Malik (Barbados Tridents)

5. James Franklin (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

6. Andre Russell (Jamaica Tallawahs)

7. Marlon Samuels (Antigua Hawksbills)

8. Shakib Al Hasan (Barbados Tridents)

9. Rayad Emrit (Barbados Tridents)

10. Krishmar Santokie (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

11. Muttiah Muralitharan (Jamaica Tallawahs)

12. 12th man: Ashley Nurse (Barbados Tridents)

The side, which was chosen on the basis of it being balanced and is theoretically capable of playing a match. Selections were made from performances in the tournament only; past records and reputations were not taken into consideration. The captain was only selected once the side had been chosen.

It was agreed that a minimum number of four matches had to be played by an individual in the tournament in order to be eligible for a place in the side. 

The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League has been hailed by organisers and players as a “massive success.” The tournament ended on Saturday August 24, 2013 in front of a full house at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad with the Jamaica Tallawahs crowned as the champions after beating the Guyana Amazon Warriors by seven wickets with 15 balls in hand.

A spectacular fireworks display, confetti, champagne and pyrotechnics followed by a free concert featuring soca artistes Super Blue, Iwer George, Denise Belfon, Blaxx and Black Stalin, put an exclamation point on what has been an event jam-packed with entertainment, excitement and sport.

It was the culmination of 24 matches over 26 days involving six franchise teams from across the region, with those matches played out at packed venues. The Limacol Caribbean Premier League took place between July 30 and August 24, 2013 and involved six franchises from across the region.