A brief but significant meeting took place at the office of Minister of Sports, Hon. Eric Evelyn, on Thursday 26th July.
Meeting with Minister Evelyn were Mr. Richard Berridge CEO of the SKN Patriots and Mr. Val Henry, Events Manager CPL and SKN Patriots.
Accompanying both gentleman, was Mr. Jamir Claxton, Director of Sports on Nevis.
Mr. Berridge used the opportunity to thank the Minister for the partnership with the NIA through the Department of Sports and noted that the Nevis Cricket Association was also an able partner along with the St. Kitts Cricket Association and the Department of Sports on St. Kitts.
The improved partnership that the SKN Patriots is proposing with the NIA, include a continuation of the annual friendly match between the Premier’s X1 and the Patriots team, which will serve as a warm up match for the franchise team; improvement in the ET Willet Park facilities; a Cricket academy for Nevis and actual CPL matches -maybe two per year in Nevis, after the facilities are improved.
The Academy, along with regular matches between players from St. Kitts and Nevis (at least 9 months per year), will serve as a feeder program for players to make it into the franchise team and beyond.
It was noted that there is a growing concern about the low numbers of local players in the franchise unit.
Minister Evelyn thanked the SKN Patriots management for the initiatives and partnership with the NIA and noted that he always wanted to see more Cricket on the island.
He thanked Mr. Jamir Caxton and his Sports Department staff for their work in keeping the game alive on the island and expressed disappointment with the output of the Nevis Cricket Association for the year so far.
Mr. Henry for his part invited all cricket lovers in St. Kitts and Nevis to support the friendly match set for Thursday 2nd August. The match commences at the ETW Park at 3 pm and will feature the Patriots v the Premier’s X1 and promises much excitement and entertainment. He pointed out that it is a unique affair with an exciting cricket match, set in the heart if Culturama. One could not ask for a better cultural mix.