From Caribbean360

CPL officials have announced that popular actor Mark Wahlberg, pictured with Ajmal Khan, has taken an equity interest in the Barbados Tridents team. (Credit: digicelcricket.com

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Tuesday July 30, 2013 – Popular Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg says he has become a big cricket fan because of Ajmal Khan, the brainchild behind the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which begins today.

Wahlberg, who has played leading roles in several blockbuster movies, says he is excited to be part of the CPL which will feature the top cricketers from the region and overseas.

CPL officials have announced that Wahlberg has taken an equity interest in the Barbados Tridents team.

“I’m excited to be a part of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League because I know cricket is huge in the Caribbean and a rich part of the region’s heritage,” said Wahlberg.

“Sports and entertainment are a powerful combination, and the LCPL will appeal to a huge audience worldwide.  Thanks to my dear friend Ajmal Khan, who introduced me to Barbados and the LCPL, I am a huge cricket fan now. ”

Wahlberg said he was also attracted to the youth development aspect of the CPL benefitting the community.

Wahlberg’s newest movie, 2 Guns, in which he stars alongside Denzel Washington, will be released on Friday.

He is also known for his starring roles in films such as Boogie Nights, Planet of the Apes, The Departed, The Fighter and Ted.

“He brings a global celebrity appeal which adds to the party atmosphere and anticipation that is already building in these final days before the tournament begins,” said Khan, Chairman of Verus International and Founder of the CPL.

“Having him as an ambassador of the greatest party in sport will indeed draw the attention of current and new cricket fans across the world, and we look forward to embracing a whole new generation of cricket fans in the US thanks to Mark.”

The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League starts today in Barbados and concludes on August 24 in Trinidad.(CMC

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Related story:

Pollard, Malik give Barbados winning start

From ESPNcricinfo staff

July 30, 2013

Barbados Tridents 169 for 5 (Malik 78, Pollard 61*) beat St Lucia Zouks 152 (Fletcher 57, Pollard 3-15, Nurse 2-18) by 17 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Shoaib Malik’s 51-ball 78 set the tone for Barbados’ innings © Getty Images

Players/Officials: Kieron Pollard | Shoaib Malik

Matches: Barbados Tridents v St Lucia Zouks at Bridgetown

Series/Tournaments: Caribbean Premier League

Teams: West Indies

In the lead-up to the first match of the Caribbean Premier League, there were reports of protests in Barbados over the appointment of Kieron Pollard, a Trinidadian, as captain of the Barbados Tridents. But Pollard’s unbeaten half-century and three-wicket haul in the 17-run win against St Lucia Zouks on Tuesday is likely to have added to his growing legion of fans.

After Barbados, having chosen to bat first, were reduced to 48 for 4, Pollard played the perfect foil to an aggressive Shoaib Malik, as the pair added 88 runs off 61 balls. Malik, who was named the Player of the Match, raced to his 50 off just 35 balls, and smashed a six and two fours off pacer Nelon Pascal in the 15th over. Once Malik perished for 78 in the 18th over, going for a slog off Tino Best, Pollard stepped up with the big shots, hitting 28 runs off the last two overs to take Barbados to 169 for 5.

St Lucia, in reply, got off to a good start, as the openers Tamim Iqbal and Andre Fletcher had a 57-run stand. Having powered to 77 for 1 off seven overs, St Lucia were in a good position and the match was theirs to lose. They went on to do exactly that, as the wicket of Fletcher in the 12th over sparked a mini-collapse and the visitors went on to lose their remaining eight wickets for 57 runs.

Struggling at 105 for 5, Darren Sammy briefly raised St Lucia’s hopes with a 16-ball 35, belting four fours and two sixes, but found himself running out of partners as the asking rate mounted. Pollard struck twice in the 18th over to dismiss Misbah-ul-Haq and Shane Shillingford, while Jason Holder dismissed Sammy and Tino Best off consecutive balls in the 19th over. Pollard sealed the win with a wicket in the final over, to end with match figures of 2.4- 0-15-3.

PHOTO: Shoaib Malik’s 51-ball 78 set the tone for Barbados’ innings © Getty Images

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