…CPL playing men’s, women’s and T10 matches at Warner Park
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federation will once again be the center of attraction in the region for cricket when India's tour of the Caribbean and United States stops over in Basseterre in August, followed by the Caribbean Premier League.
Earlier this year, Warner Park and several other venues in St. Kitts were hosts to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Under-19 World Cup which was won by India.
Hosting those games had created a buzz around the Federation.
Now, the Federation will host the mighty Indians for two T20 Internationals, as SKNVibes Sports has been reporting, on August 1 and 2 at Warner Park. Both matches are expected to be played in the morning hours in order to accommodate the primetime hour in India.
“Cabinet has been able to approve these matches for us to put together a local organising committee to work with Cricket West Indies to ensure that exciting cricket comes to St. Kitts,” noted Minister Vincent Byron Jr.
That will be followed by the staging of 31 matches in the Caribbean Premier League this year, which include the men’s league of the tournament, the revamped women’s league and the the soon to be introduced T10 tournament.
Those matches were confirmed by recently-appointed Sports Minister, Vincent Byron Jr. at the post Cabinet press briefing earlier this month, who noted that there would be an outstanding period of cricket in the Federation during the summer period.
“There is something new that the CPL is bring to St. Kitts and Nevis this year, For the first time ever, there will be a Women’s T20 in CPL and all of their matches will be played here in St. Kitts and Nevis as well as the Super 60. Again, the first time the CPL is putting on a T10 competition,” disclosed the Sports Minister Byron Jr.
Byron Jr. revealed at that press briefing that the Government had paid over the $750,000 Patriots franchise fee to CPL for the hosting here in the Federation, which means that the locally based team will remain in St. Kitts for another four years under the five year agreement
The organisers are expected to make the announcement of the T10 competition or Super 60 tomorrow (Jun. 22).
