Shahrukh Khan buys Caribbean Premier League team Trinidad & Tobago

Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has purchased the Trinidad and Tobago franchise which plays in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), according to a report in The Times of India. 

Khan's company Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd -along with Kolkata Knight Riders co-owners Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta - has invested in the Caribbean franchise, which will play in the upcoming T-20 ​CPL from June 20 to July 26.

Khan, who incidentally is the first Bollywood star and IPL owner to own an overseas cricket franchise, said he was 'thrilled' about becoming part of the cricketing tradition of Trinidad & Tobago. KKR chief executive Venky Mysore said the decision was taken considering the potential that T-20 cricket had in the Caribbean region.

Khan's KKR (two time IPL champions - 2012 and 2014) is the most valuable IPL team with an approximate brand value of $86 million (exceeding Rs 500 crore).

Interestingly, 38% of Trinidad & Tobago's population is of Indian origin and the investors hope that they can capitalise on the large numbers that Khan's name would draw.  

Dwayne Bravo (who played for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 8), Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree and Kevon Cooper are the West Indian players in the T&T team. Kamran Akmal, Johan Botha, Jacques Kallis (who was KKR's mentor for IPL 8) will also feature in the T&T team's CPL matches for this season.

Khan's rivals in the CPL will include Hollywood stars, with actor Mark Wahlberg owning the Barbados Tridents and actor Gerard Butler owning the Jamaica Tallawahs.