Sports

Barbadians Encouraged To Support ICC World Cup Cricket Matches

As Government readies the country for the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup Final, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, is appealing to Barbadians to throw their full support behind the event.

Addressing a media briefing, Minister Griffith, who declared that Barbados was in a ready position to stage the event, indicated that while the Government was meeting its obligations, there is a need for thousands of Barbadians to volunteer their time and resources to make the event an absolute success.

“We are looking to have a major volunteer push in relation to this particular event because the status of it alone requires that we have hundreds if not thousands of volunteers on island coming out to support the Government, in terms of making this a success. We at the Ministry have started the process of putting a volunteer programme in place not only for the World Cup, but for subsequent events that would be happening on the island,” he said, during the briefing held in the boardroom of his Ministry’s Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St Michael headquarters.

Barbados is expected to host the final of the June 1 to 29 showpiece, as well as eight other games throughout the tournament, three of which are Super 8 (quarterfinals) games. The event is expected to attract thousands of fans and 200 journalists to the island.

The Minister explained that $50 million has been allocated to upgrade Kensington Oval, which has the capacity to accommodate 18,000 people. He said the funds will also be used to facilitate infrastructural work at locations earmarked for practice matches which are the 3W’s Oval, Cave Hill; Police Sports Club at Weymouth; and Windward Cricket Club, Lucas Street, St Philip.

However, he stated that while the Government is pulling its pockets, Barbadians who want to make a contribution to nation building have the opportunity to get involved in the process of helping the country to host the event.

“Now, one of the things that I want to speak about as well is the fact that this is not only the World Cup that is happening in 2024 here. We are looking at legacy in terms of this particular event. The fact that we would have done it on two previous occasions means that we have an idea of what is required to stage that event.

“And I am making a call because this event is not about the Government, this is about all of us that live on the island. We would have seen a video that recently went viral in terms of the friendliness of our citizens here and I am asking all Barbadians to be involved in the process.

“Whatever you think is necessary to chip in to help make this a success, then the Government is asking you to do such…. We are putting not only the country on show, but we are putting the region on show. And I believe that if all of us come together to make this a reality, then the success would be the same, if not bigger than what transpired in 2007 and 2010,” he said.

Noting that the event would not only evolve around Kensington Oval, where the matches will be played, Mr. Griffith said fans are expected to take in the sights and scenes around the island, providing a perfect opportunity for community tourism to shine.

He suggested that Barbadians could potentially earn money through promoting aspects of their communities and the staging of cultural events.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the National Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee headed by Ambassador Noel Lynch and Roland Toppin, respectively, for hitting targets as it relates to putting critical measures in place.

“There is also a legacy component that after this event we would have a facility that is fit for purpose. We are building a profile that Barbados can host international events and do so in a successful way. So, I really want to say thank you to those two committees and everyone who is involved in the process. I think we are ahead of the curb so to speak in relation to the preparation process,” Minister Griffith said.

Meanwhile, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s, Sports Manager, Kamal Springer, said over 200 journalists will call Barbados home for the event’s duration. He added that the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC) will be the venue for the media, and is currently undergoing enhancements to meet world-class standards.

The Sports Manager also indicated that the enhancements not only elevate the LESC to accommodate the needs of the global press, but also contribute to boosting Barbados’ reputation as a capable and sophisticated host for international events. (PR/GIS)

Sports

INDIA WINS THE ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP

India won the ninth edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final at Kensington Oval this afternoon.
India scored 176 for seven wickets after winning the toss and deciding to bat, they were wobbling at 23 for two after Keshar Maharaj picked up two wickets with the second and sixth balls of his first over.
The left-arm spinner had Rohit Sharma caught Hendricks Klaasen for nine and forced Rishabh Pant to play the ball into the gloves of the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck.
Suryakumar Yadav fell in the fifth over for three runs, caught by Heinrich Klassen on the leg-side rope off fast bowler Kagiso Rabada which left the Indians in a fragile position at 34 for three.
Axar Patel joined Virat Kohli at the crease and the pair went about repairing the damage with a busy 72 run partnership, with Patel smashing 47 from just 31 deliveries which included one four and five sixes before his lack of awareness and de Kock’s accuracy resulted in him being run out with the score 106 for four.

Kohli, the Player of the Match, featured in another half century partnership of 58, this time with Shivam Dube. He made the eventual top score of 76 with six fours and two sixes before his gem of innings ended when he was caught by Rabada of left arm seamer Marco Jansen in the 17th over.
After Kohl’s wicket at 163 for five, Shivam Dube holed out to David Miller five balls and11 runs later to pacer Anrich Nortje for 27, Dube counted three fours and one six in his entertaining innings, Nortje also claimed the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja of the of the final ball of the innings. Maharaj was the pick of the Proteas bowlers with two wickets for 23 runs from three overs.
Chasing 177 runs for victory and their first ICC title, South Africa were restricted to 169 for eight, their innings began badly losing two wickets for 12 runs in the third over; opener Reeza Hendricks was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for four and Aiden Markham made four.
Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs repaired the damage with a third wicket partnership of 58, after the dismissal of de Kock and Stubbs, a quickfire 52 off 27 balls with five sixes and two fours from Heinrick Klaasen give South Africa hope.
India appeared to have miscalculated when South Africa needed 30 runs off the same number of balls, but captain Sharma turned to Bumrah and the ace fast bowler stepped up to the plate, he conceded six runs in two overs.
Hardik Pandya was India’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 20 runs, Arshdeep Singh took two for 20, and Bumrah, the Play of the Tournament captured two for 18.
The match, the 100th T20 game to be played at the Oval was before a capacity crowd which included the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, the president of Guyana Irfaan Ali, the Prime Minister of St Lucia Pierre Philips, and former West Indies captain and National Hero of Barbados the Right Excellent Sir Garry Sobers. (article by David Harris)

Sports

Military Personnel Arrive For T20 World Cup Final

The Barbados Police Service (TBPS), in collaboration with the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), has welcomed a contingent of 60 police officers and soldiers from within the Regional Security System (RSS).

The contingent of RSS support personnel was sworn in as Special Constables in an Official Swearing In and Briefing Ceremony on Wednesday, June 26, at the Police Band Headquarters, Prince Cave Hall, District ‘A’ Complex, Station Hill, St. Michael.

The officers arrived on the island to support the country’s effort in policing the finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final on Saturday, June 29, at Kensington Oval.

The Administration of TBPS and the BDF, wish to express their gratitude to the RSS Officers for their commitment and co-operation in this joint venture.

It is anticipated that the general public will interact with these officers in and around the environs of Kensington Oval.

Sports

WEST INDIES BEAT USA

Friday night was epic! Roston Chase starred with the ball and Shai Hope made an entertaining half century to guide the West Indies nine wicket victory against the United States in their Super 8 encounter of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup before a full house at Kensington Oval on Friday night.
The United States were bowled out for 128 in 19.5 overs after the West Indies won the toss and opted to field; the American team wobble to 48 for one at the end of the first power play and never recovered from the shaky start. Opener Andries Gous scored 29, Nitish Kumar 19, and Shadley Schalkwyk contributed 18.
Chase, the Player of the Match picked up three wickets for 19 runs from four overs with his off-spin, and seamer Andre Russel captured three for 31, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph chipped in with two wickets.

Chasing 129 runs for their first victory in Super 8, the West Indies raced to 130 for one wicket in 10.5 overs; Hope made an unbeaten 82 runs from 32 balls, the elegant right –handed batsman struck eight sixes and strokes four fours, Nicholas Pooran hit a quick fire 27 that contained three sixes off 12 balls, and Johnson Charles contributed 15.
Over 14,000 fans watched the match, before the game started, they were treated to a sterling rendition of the official West Indies Cricket Anthem by the composer of the song calypsonian David Rudder.
The West Indies next match is against South Africa at the Sir Vivian Richards in Antigua tonight, Sunday June 23rd at 8.30 pm.