ST JOHN’S, Antigua:
CRICKET WEST Indies (CWI) on Tuesday announced a new partnership with WINLOTT Inc as the official partner of the West Indies Rising Stars Men’s U19 Championship, which began yesterday in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The youth tournament, which plays a vital role in the development pathway for the next generation of cricketers across the West Indies, is being resumed after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yesterday, three matches – the Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago vs Guyana, and Barbados vs Jamaica – began at Arnos Vale, Park Hill and Cumberland, respectively. The tournament runs through to Saturday, August 27.
The six-team tournament will comprise four rounds of three-day red-ball matches. A total of 12 matches will be played.
The most recent tournament among the under-19s took place in 2019, a 50-over affair, which Barbados won.
“WINLOTT Inc is proud to partner with Cricket West Indies to host this Rising Stars Under-19 Championship. With the public’s continued support for Super 6, WINLOTT remains committed to substantial investment in sports throughout the region,” said Wilmott Chairman Murray Bullock.
CWI vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow mimicked the sentiments of Bullock, saying that “CWI is excited about this partnership with WINLOTT for the upcoming Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 Championship. WINLOTT, through their Super 6 game, have been champions of youth cricket in the Windward Islands for many years, so it is remarkable to have them as an official partner at this level as we continue to give young cricketers the opportunity to showcase and develop their talents.”
All the games are being shown live on the West Indies YouTube channel.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Group A: Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Leeward Islands
Group B: Barbados, Jamaica, Windward Islands
Round 1: August 10-12
Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands at Arnos Vale
Trinidad and Tobago vs Guyana at Park Hill
Barbados vs Jamaica at Cumberland
Round 2: August15-17
Trinidad and Tobago vs Barbados at Arnos Vale
Leeward Islands vs Guyana at Park Hill
Windward Islands vs Jamaica at Cumberland
Round 3: August 20-22
Jamaica vs Guyana at Arnos Vale
Windward Islands vs Barbados at Park Hill
Leeward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago at Cumberland
Play-offs: August 25-27
1st Group A vs 1st Group B at Arnos Vale
2nd Group A vs 2nd Group B at Park Hill
3rd Group A vs 3rd Group B at Cumberland