The Ministry of Sport’s first-ever National 20/20 Cricket club championship, sponsored by the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), got off to a tremendous start on Saturday at Progress Park, St. Andrew.
The competition, a spin-off of last year’s 40-Overs Club Championship boasts 16 teams including L’Esterre and Mt. Royal from the sister Isle of Carriacou.
With some teams being village teams, it is the hope of Tournament Director and Senior Cricket Coach in the Ministry of Sports Raphael Croney that “those that are not yet clubs [will] begin to form themselves in a structured group, so as to enhance the sport in their various village or community.”
Furthermore, it is the hope that the competition, due to its inclusiveness of youngsters, such as Keon George, captain of the National Under-15 Cricket team, will go a long way in enhancing the cricketing skills and character of young men throughout Grenada.
Keeping with 20/20 tradition, the competition offers up for grabs cash prizes including a first place prize of $8,000, a second place prize of$ 5,000, a third place prize of $3,000 and other individual prizes.
But by far, the greatest outcome achievable by teams and even more so individual players is the potential to gain regional exposure.
According to NLA General Manager Kenneth Noel, “If the tournament is successful, recommendation would be made [to other Super Six members] to have a windward island 20/20 competition next year. Such a competition could serve as the perfect platform in allowing talented Grenadian cricketers to be identified by greater regional bodies.
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