BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Pride’s bid for a third successive first class crown will begin at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua next week, when they take on traditional rivals Guyana Harpy Eagles.
Cricket West Indies yesterday formally announced the match schedule for the opening two rounds of the five-round tournament which runs from January 31 to April 1 and will also be played in Grenada and Trinidad.
In fact, the Grenada National Stadium will host the tournament opener next Tuesday when Windward Islands Volcanoes clash with Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.Pride’s fixture will be one of two bowling off next Wednesday, with Leeward Islands Hurricanes hosting Jamaica Scorpions at Coolidge Cricket Ground.
“We are happy to announce the match schedule and venues for the first two rounds of the West Indies Championship, our flagship regional tournament on the annual calendar,” said CWI’s manager of cricket operations, Roland Holder. “The six teams have been preparing diligently for the upcoming season and we expect to see keen competition this year as they battle for the Headley Weekes trophy.
“From the tournament, the best performers also have the reward of playing for Team Weekes and Team Headley in the new tournament announced by CWI scheduled for April and May.”
The Headley Weekes Series will comprise three matches and three teams – Team Headley, Team Weekes and the West Indies Academy – and run from April 19 to May 6 at Coolidge Cricket Ground.
Team Headley and Team Weekes will be made up of the tournament’s best performers who do not currently feature in the starting West Indies Test XI.
Round two of the Regional First Class Championship will bowl off February 8 and will see Pride taking on Scorpions at Coolidge, Red Force clashing with Hurricanes at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Harpy Eagles up against Volcanoes at the Grenada National Stadium.
The last three rounds of the championship will take place in Trinidad starting March 15.