It’s official. After a few weeks of speculation, the information was finally made public on Tuesday 14th June, when a press conference was held at the St.Paul’s Anglican church conference room.
The press conference was coordinated by the St.Kitts-Nevis Patriots franchise team to promote an upcoming exhibition match at the ET Willet Park, scheduled for Saturday 25th June, starting at 12.00 noon.
The match will be played between the St.Kitts-Nevis Patriots team and a Premier’s X1.
The match will be played free of cost for the cricket loving public on Nevis.
After brief remarks by chairperson of the press conference, Carl Tuckett, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Mr. Keith Glasgow, gave an update as regards preparations for the game.
He noted that his ministry is currently involved in intense preparations for the game. He noted that the department of Youth and Sports contacted Mr. Val Henry, Events Manager for the franchise team, about the possibility of hosting the game. This was followed up by an official meeting between both parties.
A strategic partnership was formed between the NIA and the SKN Patriots franchise.
He noted that even though it is an exhibition matches, because of the quality of players involved, all of the relevant entities involved need to be up to the international level.
He pointed to the exceptional performances of Nevisian cricketers at the international level and opined that the general public would be happy to support such a game as this level of Cricket has been lacking from the island for sometime now.
He took the opportunity to invite the entire sports loving public to come out in their numbers.
Mr. Henry then outlined the schedule of matches which the local team will be involved in, at the Warner Park Cricket stadium, as part of the upcoming CPL tournament:
June 30th –SKN Patriots v Guyana Amazon Warriors-8pm
July 2nd –SKN Patriots v Jamaica Talawahs-12.00 noon
July 3rd-SKN Patriots v St.Lucia ZOUKS-4 pm
July 5th-Patriots v Barbados Tridents -7 pm
The costs to watch the matches are as follows:
Grounds (Western mound): $10.00 US
Stands: $13.00 US
Party stand (regular)-$10.00 US
Party stand (VIP)-$50.00
VPI-VP area-$100.00 US per day
He noted that all four matches are expected to be exciting and of a high quality.
He also brought greetings from the franchise owner
and management team and all of the coordinators.
He noted that because it is a St.Kitts-Nevis team, it was necessary for Nevisians to see some of these top quality players in Nevis and also for the youngster to be motivated by them.
He was quick to point out that the team includes Nevisian Kieran Powell and Kittitian Jeremiah Louis.
There was a good representation of local media houses on hand and they had the opportunity to field key questions.
During this period, the selection process for the Premier’s X1 was explained as follows:
Originally, the Patriots were excepted to play against the Leewards Hurricanes but due to some logistical issues, that was not possible. However, the Premier’s X1 will comprise mainly of Leeward’s Hurricanes players and players from the SKN Patriots team, recognizing the fact that there are some 17 players in the lineup.
During the thank you’s, given by Carl Tuckett, the Nevisian public was once again urged to come out their huge numbers to support what indeed is being regarded as an international game.