ICYMI: $25,000 up for grabs, Courts increases their investment, LCB central Sharks issues challenge to other teams, Stacy-Ann King hopes to build franchise fan base and the TTWCA plans to make Franchise League international
The Courts Women’s T20 GrandSlam Franchise Tournament was launched yesterday, with many announcements, challenges, and expectations being mentioned by those lauding the start of the 3rd edition of the tournament which bowls off from December 3 to 13.
Courts Corporate Social Responsibility Regional Officer, Nicole Loney-Mills, announced an increase in the company’s investment in the tournament while also commending the TTWCA for the continued growth of the event:
“This is a significant moment for us as we celebrate the evolution of women’s cricket. It is also our pleasure to announce that this year, our investment totals $100,000. We have had a long and fruitful relationship with the cricket fraternity and this partnership further pushes the envelope for continued development of sport to new heights. More importantly I see this as an investment in building our people and our community. At Unicomer, we are very passionate and committed about the development of our people and we extend this value to our business partners, key stakeholders and communities we support through our various public relations and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
It is also our hope that the Courts T20 Franchise Tournament will serve as a platform for changing the game to encourage greater participation by our female cricketers. Through this avenue we will be able to identify new talent that could represent not only Trinidad and Tobago but West Indies cricket on the International stage at the highest level of competition.” – Nicole Loney-Mills
WI all-rounder, Stacy Ann King encouraged fans to come out and support while also speaking about the establishment of franchise merchandise to further boost a fan base:
“The opportunity to develop a high level of professionalism that will contribute the the continued development of women’s cricket throughout the region, is one of the first and foremost aims of this event. We also embrace the prospect of establishing our own respective franchise fan base through the use of replica t-shirts and support via social media. The players are very appreciative of this continued support by the TTWCA, CWI and MSYA, Courts, the franchise holders; Trident Sports Phoenix, LCB Contractors, UDECOTT, and all the other sponsors who have shown faith in the development of local and regional women’s cricket.” – Stacy-Ann King, West Indies all-rounder and captain of the Phoenix Sports Tridents.
Manager of the LCB Central Sharks, Ian Telfer encouraged more sponsors to invest in the women’s game while issuing a challenging tot he other franchise teams on behalf of the LCB Central Sharks:
“These ladies are professionals in every sense of the word. Those of you don’t come, who find it inconvenient, you missed it. You missed some incredible moments in sport. Our girls give of their best, come on, can’t we even give them part of our best, can’t we show some support? I manage the LCB Central Sharks, we are the defending champions and I am challenging every other team; “come and get us.” The target is on our back, we know, we were the underdogs last year, we know that you all are coming for us this year, and I want to say one thing; “We will be glad to meet you, we will be even happier to greet you and then we will be glad to beat you.” – Ian Telfer, Manager of the LCB Central Sharks
CWI Head Women and Girls Selector and TTWCA Vice President, Ann Browne-John shared the Association’s plans for bigger and better things in the future, including making the event international:
“When this tournament was started three years ago, I don’t think any of us anticipated how it would grow. But the brand of cricket the girls have played over the past two years has made this tournament start to grow from strength to strength. And the is evident in the fact that this year, we are going to have every West Indian player who is not injured and that’s just about two injuries, but all the other top WI players are going to be present in this tournament.
This franchise tournament has been placed on the Cricket West Indies Calendar for the next 2 years. When we started this tournament it was primarily because the TTWCA is committed to the development of girls and women in the country and we have tried to show that commitment yearly through our leagues, which include a 50 over league for the premiership and a 30 over league for the Championship development, a T20 tournament, a T10 Tournament, we run a Regional U19 tournament which CWI has also come on board with us for that now and our plan is to grow this tournament, not just local, not just regional, but soon to have an international flavour. We know it will cost money and we will have to plan for it but that is how we would like to go.” – Ann Brown John, CWI Head Women and Girls Selector and Vice President of the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Cricket Association.
