Records are shattered as the CPL crowns a new champion. Records are made to be broken, after all, and to become champions, you have to do that frequently. Sixes, a hat-trick, flying catches, broken stumps, soaring emotions, low-scoring thrillers, and high-scoring blockbusters - this season had a bit of everything molded into it. But as all good things come to an end, it is time to sign off from CPL 2026. I will personally miss the theme song, which is one of my favorites of all time. Thank you for staying with us throughout the last month; we highly appreciate your presence and valuable feedback. Time to say goodbye. This is Rashad Mahbub signing off on behalf of Rvel Zahid, the scoring team, and the whole Cricinfo desk. Goodnight and goodbye!

The prime ministers of Trinidad and Antigua present the trophy to Moeen Ali. He carries it up to the stage, where his entire team waits to celebrate. The pyrotechnics go off, and here they are, folks - the official champions of the 2026 Caribbean Premier League, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons!

Moeen Ali: "[How special is this for you personally and for your franchise?] Yeah, very special. I think more for the franchise, more for the players, coaching staff, and everybody that was involved. It's been a tough journey, but a great journey. Time has gone quick for us because we've enjoyed each other's company, and you can see on the field the way we played. I thought tonight was an outstanding performance again, and I'm really pleased with the way we performed throughout the competition. It was a decent fight in the end. I mean, the dew made a big difference, but it was a great touch to win.

[Joining the team late] Honestly, that game I played at Saint Lucia, we were only defending 57 off 10 overs, and we almost won that game. From there, I saw fight and great determination from the guys, and I thought at least there's something great to work with. Then it was just getting the guys right. I mean, having two wrist-spinners, two pace guys up top, and then two death bowlers, it's not always easy to combine. But I think the biggest difference was the players that came in and out for a couple of injuries in between, guys like Rahkeem Cornwall and Fabian Allen coming in and out, it wasn't easy, but they made a huge difference. Quality players who always give everything.

[Leaving out Fabian Allen] The way Maaz was playing, I didn't want to open with an off-spinner because he does play off-spin quite well and takes runs off it. I wanted someone with pace to bowl at him, have two guys with good pace at him, and we just felt like the wicket may have a bit of bounce, which it did. He got a great wicket for us up top, and I still think he bowled really well. Having pace up top really works for us; it just makes it uncomfortable for batters, and we just wanted a bit of a change.

[Record-breaking chase] I think 170 in a final is normally a very good score, but obviously the dew was going to come in. To get 20 runs off your first five balls with the way Big Rahkeem plays was outstanding, and it just set the tone. Evin played brilliantly too; well, not everyone really played a big knock, but Jangoo, I really want to mention Jangoo's innings because a lot of people have been talking about his strike rate, etc. But he always turns up and gets 20 or 30 runs every time. Tonight, I had a gut feel, a few of us did, that he was going to do the job because he's that character. He's a run-scorer with brilliant fight in him, and I'm really pleased for him. [Coaching staff's contribution] Massive. Behind the scenes, Nico was outstanding, Andy, all of them - from the physios to every single person, Willow, Nico, all the guys that made my life easy for me because there was a lot of issues going on initially. But we sorted them out, and they were massive. Our analysis guy was outstanding.

[Message to the fans] Yeah, look, amazing fans. We've had great support throughout, and this is for the people of Antigua. The crowd, the people that came and showed their support was second to none. So we're really proud of what we've done for you guys more than anything, and I would like to say one thing: Free Palestine always."

Time for the champion team's players to line up and collect their medals.

Rovman Powell: "[Describe this feeling and emotion] It's a good feeling, to be honest. I think it's a very hard-fought campaign for us. I'm so proud of the boys. [Discussion at halfway stage] I think after the halfway stage, we felt as if we were 10 to 15 runs short, to be honest. We knew that it was a pretty good batting wicket. Credit has to be given to our batters for the first 10 overs. I think Maaz played fantastically for us, and the partnership he strung with Saim Ayub carried us to 100 for 2 in 10 overs. It's disappointing that as a batting group on such a good wicket, we didn't really capitalize on that start. [Critical moments] I think as a batting group, when we lost four wickets in the middle overs, four key batters who were supposed to put the impetus on the game in the last 10 overs, and as a bowling group, we didn't control the powerplay as well as we wanted to.

[How would you describe this journey overall?] I honestly feel it's a proud journey for us. We have accomplished a lot of things. We set out to be in the finals, and when we came to the tournament, we wanted to see if we could progress all the way. It was a slow start to the competition as we lost our first few games, but we built a little bit of momentum with our home crowd back home in Jamaica, and from there the guys started to believe that we could actually play cricket. We went to Trinidad, which is a difficult place to play cricket, and we played a very good game down there. That confidence kept building within the team. We knew that as soon as we squeezed into the last four of the competition, how dangerous our team could be, and the guys just kept chipping in. Credit has to be given to them throughout the entire competition. They listened to the leadership that myself and the head coach provided, and I am actually proud of the boys.

[Message to Falcons] It's obviously a proud moment for them. It's a proud moment for all the people in Antigua. If you look at the warmth that they had, it was fantastic. The people came out and supported them, and that goes a long way. It goes a long way for the young cricketing public in Antigua to see their stars, Alzarri Joseph, Rahkeem Cornwall, and those guys doing it on the big stage. Hopefully, those little kids back in Antigua can take motivation from that, and once they do, they will keep pushing in the right direction, and hopefully, it leads to the growth of the sport in Antigua."

Now it is time for the presentation to the match officials. Following that, medals will be awarded to the runners-up team, led by skipper Powell.

Player of the Tournament, Shadab Khan: "First of all, thanks to Almighty Allah. Obviously, when you're playing as an all-rounder, you try to give it everything on the field, either with bowling or batting. So I think especially bowling-wise, wherever I bowled, because in the middle overs you need a container as well, and you have to take wickets. So I think bowling-wise, I did so well. Alhamdulillah, because I was struggling for the last couple of years, so I needed that type of performance, which I got, and hopefully from here I get a proper rhythm and confidence.

[What made your batting successful?] I think it's because I was mentally free due to the role the team gave me. I knew that I had to fulfill that role whenever I came in, because most of the time I had to play the death overs. I made my mind up that way as well. And when you are mentally free, you know you will face failure as well. You accept failure, but I think when you are free with that type of a mindset, most of the time you succeed. And I think the mindset was there.

[Hat-trick] Alhamdulillah, very happy, because you know that type of a milestone as a player, you need it in your career, and Alhamdulillah, to get it in a qualifier on a bigger occasion. So I'm very happy, because again, as a bowler, when you're doing this type of stuff, especially in the middle overs, most of the time your team will win. So, most importantly, if your team is winning and you're doing well for the team and you contribute for the team, it's more than enough.

[Reintroduced yourself as a white-ball player] Alhamdulillah, for me, I think it's so far going so well. So I wanted to continue with that, because I know last year I had a surgery, so I was six to eight months out, and after that I know it was a very hard thing. I have to dedicate my Player of the Tournament award to my whole family, because I know they were struggling a lot with me, when you have a young child going through surgery. My mother and my parents, they went through a lot, and most importantly, I am not always in the news for good reasons. So maybe they see the TV and social media and get upset as well. So they need that type of happiness. That's what I have to dedicate to them as well."

Player of the Match, Sufyan Moqim: "First of all, thanks to Almighty Allah. I have done so well throughout the tournament. Obviously, when you perform in a final in that type of a game, I am very happy, and I dedicate my Man of the Match performance to our legend, Ambrose, because his birthday is coming up - turning 63 in about 20 minutes. So I dedicate my Man of the Match award to the legend. [Important aspect in bowling] Bowling in a good area and trying to bowl in a good area all the time. [Helpful conditions?] Obviously, it was a little bit tough because of the dew, but overall I tried to mix it up with my variations and succeeded.

[Where does this title rank for you in your career?] I have won two finals before because I played the PSL and the Emerging Asia Cup as well, and I won there too, so I am always a lucky charm - whenever I go to a final, we win it. Obviously, I already made up my mind because I did well in the last game, and in this game, I wanted to do well because our legend has a birthday, so I wanted to dedicate it to him. I already made a plan for that."

Jahmar Hamilton: "You know, to win for the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. This year is special. This year is for the Antigua and Barbuda public. They've been rallying behind us, and as we said, Antigua and Barbuda believes now, man. So we did believe tonight, and this one is for all our fans."

Sir Curtly Ambrose: "I mean, words really can't describe my feeling. You know, because six weeks ago, whenever we started, not many gave us a chance. They called in other franchises, and the Falcons were never in that conversation until deep in the tournament when we started to look like a well-oiled machine and a closely knit unit. We started talking about the Falcons, but we believed from the very beginning that we have what it takes to win this championship, and we finally did it. I mean, every time you win, it generates interest, and I'm quite sure that a lot of youngsters in Antigua will want to play cricket now because of success, and that's what success brings. But for me, I mean, it's really special. We had a lot of Antiguans here. Our Prime Minister is here. I mean, we're just elated, and we deserve to win because I think we played the best cricket consistently throughout the tournament. [What word will you say?] Jubilation. The Falcons have done it."

Paul Nixon: "The guys have been immense all year. We've been so committed, so clear. Moeen has been an exceptional captain. Everybody's had an impact in the team and the dressing room, and it's been amazing. The backroom staff analysis has been world-class. So many people given so much, and I'm just so proud for the Antiguans who backed us. And tonight the boys played beautifully. Jangoo has had a great competition, seeing it through in style. So proud, so humbled, lovely. Amazing people, surround yourself with quality."

Wilden Cornwall: "This moment means so much, so much for me and my country. This is our third year trying, and I knew that something about this team, this Antigua team, that some glory behind it, and there are so many people behind this scene that make this team a successful team. The man here, so much to thank him for how we go about our planning, what we want to do, how we're going to execute, the environment that we want to make our players feel at home. Hey, I'm passionate. Yes, believe, believe, Antigua!"

Rahkeem Cornwall: "Well, from day one, I think the people of Antigua supported us. The way the crowd came out is self-evident. I just have to say thank you, and this is for the crowd in Antigua and Barbuda. Yeah, I'm really surprised to see so many Antiguans come down and support us. We felt the love from them, and we couldn't do better than just come out and win it for Antigua."

Alzarri Joseph: "Well, I think we had a really good tournament. We had a really good team. Everyone gelled together, and we always believed. So I think this is a result of all the hard work. [16 wickets] I think it's just doing the simple things consistently. Not thinking too much, just doing what is required on each surface."

Jayden Seales: "I have no words. I'm really happy to be there and be a part of this team to be able to win the CPL. We believed from the very beginning, and we did it. I'm really, really happy. [Fans] Just thanks. We felt all the love from Antigua. We know they are celebrating hard now, and we're really happy to have won it for them."

Amir Jangoo: "[Saved the best for the last] Magnificent feeling. We knew when we bowled first that they got probably 50 runs too short, so we knew the wicket was a good one, and thankfully, we did it. As I said, Moeen Ali told us that he just wants players to make an impact. It doesn't matter about personal milestones; if it comes, it comes. But throughout this whole tournament, all the guys played as a team. Whatever impact you make, just add it to the team, and that's what we did. So it's amazing.

[Proud moment for this franchise] Yeah, definitely. Even when we were second or first in the table, they still weren't counting us as having a chance for the title. But I think they have to put some respect on this franchise name now. I think we played brilliant cricket. As I said, I can't thank the leaders enough. All my teammates believed in me from day one, even when I was struggling a bit. So I'm so happy."

Shadow-Shell: "How crazy/cool is that in the 14th edition of a league, 3 year old team won the final against a debutant"

11:21 pm A blazing start by the Falcons, helped by Cornwall's 20 runs off Ayub's first over. The score was 76 for 1 after the powerplay, as both Lewis and Jangoo went all guns blazing against the Kingsmen bowlers, not letting them settle on their line and length. Lewis departed after the powerplay, bowled out by Lawes for 38 off 26 balls. Jangoo and Nawaz then continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, hurting the Kingsmen bowlers with boundaries and continuous strike rotation. Sloppy misfields and leaked runs through overthrows sum up a difficult night for the Kingsmen in the field. Jangoo remained unbeaten on 57 off 34 balls, while Nawaz chipped in with a crucial 47 off 35. The Kingsmen bowling unit had no answer to the Falcons' complete batting display, bringing their fairytale run to an end on a night where it just was not their day - except for that Maaz Sadaqat's world-class century. What a proud debut campaign the Kingsmen have put together; they will surely come back stronger next year. Plenty of short interviews are coming up, so stay tuned.