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Cayman cricket prepares for Stanford 20/20 competition

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Cricket in the Cayman Islands is set to be elevated to another level based on the government’s support for the national team’s involvement in a Caribbean competition next year.

Seventeen regional countries, including Cayman, have been invited to play in a special 20/20 tournament promoted by Antiguan resident Allen Stanford, and Sports Minister Alden McLaughlin on Saturday confirmed Government’s backing for the local team when he met competition representative and former West Indies cricket Captain Richie Richardson.

During a breakfast meeting, Mr. McLaughlin assured the former captain that Government will be an equal partner in this venture that will see Cayman directly challenging first-class Caribbean teams. This will be a step up from its usual participation at the level of a developing associate member of International Cricket Council.

At this meeting Mr McLaughlin was accompanied by permanent Secretary Angela Martins, Assistant Permanent Secretary Joel Francis, National Cricket Coach Theo Cuffy, Cayman Islands Cricket Association President Courtney Myles, and Chairman of the Cayman Islands Stanford 20/20 Committee Hector Robinson.
“As a lover of West Indies cricket in the good or bad times, it’s an honour to be involved in planning for Cayman’s participation in this event,” Mr. McLaughlin told Mr. Richardson.

Texas billionaire Stanford at the beginning of October announced a US$28 million cash injection for the tournament that runs for five weeks beginning in July 2006. The money includes a US$1 million prize for the winner.

20/20 cricket is a recent shortened format designed to bring more thrills to the one-day game where teams bowl 20 overs each.

“I share the view with the tournament organisers that this format would bring new excitement to the game and stimulate more interest by our young people. It would then be up to us as a Government to work along with administrators of the game to build that attraction generated by the 20/20 competition and rekindle cricket from the grassroots,” the Sports Minister said.

Richardson, the legendary West Indies player, has taken aboard the Cayman Islands as the country he will work with in its preparation for the tournament. Leading up to the competition a number of West Indies former outstanding players have ‘adopted’ various territories to assist in their readiness while working along with local coaches in all-round cricket development.

“This is not just about 20/20 cricket, it is about developing cricket overall. We have to bring back some of the excitement to the game,” said Mr. Richardson who is scheduled for a number of return visits to the Cayman Islands.

He said that Cayman’s geographical closeness to the United States presents an opportunity to promote cricket tourism, once the right facilities are in place.

Mr. Richardson first played for the West Indies in 1983 and was Captain from 1991 to 1995 when he retired. He led the regional side for 24 tests, winning 11, losing six and drawing seven.

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