SVGCA introducing Super 40 competition to national fixtures

An effort to increase attendance at local cricket matches will see the introduction of what is being billed as a new and exciting addition to the national fixtures.{{more}}

Executive members of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association last Wednesday announced the introduction of the Super 40 competition, which is expected to debut later this month at the Park Hill Playing Field.

Kishore Shallow, the Association’s assistant secretary with responsibility for local cricket development, told a press conference that the Super 40 is a limited overs tournament, which borrows some of the features which make the IPL and CPL appealing to the international masses.

“We have the top three placed teams in the Premier Division this year, and the top team in the First Division,” Shallow told the media.

“The tournament date is the 24th, 25th and the 31st of August and the first of September, when the grand finals is going to be played …”

Shallow also pointed out that the fact that the tournament will be played at the field at Park Hill is also a feature that is expected to draw crowds.

“In the past years, our main games were played at Arnos Vale and we have seen the decline from spectators at the Arnos Vale ground and we understand the challenges… so we thought about moving cricket back to the windward side….”

According to Shallow, the teams in the competition (Team Rivals, Guardian Life Saints, Victors One from the Premier Division, and Police One from the First Division) will be allowed to recruit players from other teams, in an effort to make their sides stronger.

He said that on the first two fixtures, Police One will take on Team Rivals, while Victors One will Play Guardian Life Saints. The following weekend there will be a third place playoff between the two losing teams, followed by the two preliminary winners in the finals.

The final match will follow the official opening of the playing field in Park Hill.

Shallow announced that the winning team will take home a grand prize of EC$2,000 and a trophy, with second place earning EC$1,000, and third place EC$500.

Financial incentives will also be given to individual performers.

The executive members say that they are hoping that the new tournament kindles the excitement of cricket fans here, and that other corporate entities embrace the initiative, in an effort to expand the competition in the future.(JJ)