Regional Super50 bowls off in St. Kitts

Regional Super50 bowls off in St. Kitts
Associated Press / Max Nash, File

Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis will host this year’s Regional Super50 starting this month.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) is hoping the tournament provides an early launch pad in preparation for the 2023 World Cup in India.

Title-holders Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners will headline Group A in St. Kitts where Leeward Islands Hurricane, Jamaica Scorpions, Barbados Pride and Canada will do battle.

Last year’s losing finalists, Guyana Jaguars, will contest Group B in Trinidad alongside Windward Islands Volcanoes, United States, West Indies Emerging Players and host, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said the tournament would be an important one as selectors begin to assess players ahead of the next 50-overs World Cup.

He said “it will allow us to start identifying players who will go on to play a role in our qualifications. Though some of our international players will be touring India with the West Indies during the competition, it allows more opportunities and exposure for our young players.”

One again this year, CWI has included a development squad in the Nov. 6 to Dec. 1 tournament, with the hope of exposing younger players who missed out on selection to the six regional franchises.

Labeled the West Indies Emerging Players, Adams said competing in the Super50 would also build on the work done in the High Performance Program.

A total of 40 group stage matches will be played, with the two groups running concurrently.

Marooners will raise the curtain on the tournament when they clash with Hurricanes on Nov. 6 at Warner Park, St. Kitts, while Group B will get underway when Jaguars take on Emerging Players at the Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad the following day.