Minister Grange Proposes Caribbean Women’s T20 Cricket League

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, has proposed the creation of a Twenty20 (T20) cricket tournament for women in the region, similar to the format played by their male counterparts in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

She said the region’s women cricketers would benefit significantly from the exposure and experience to be gained against the background of a global viewership of more than 130 million for the CPL, which is contested by six franchise teams.

The Minister was speaking at a breakfast meeting with members of defending CPL champions, Jamaica Tallawahs, as well as organisers and sponsors of the tournament at the Melbourne Cricket Club in Kingston on Thursday, August 24.

Ms. Grange noted that the CPL sponsors were pleased and encouraged by the fact that the CPL, which started in 2013, provides the region’s young male cricketers, in particular, with the opportunity to advance their careers.

She said in light of this, the organisers should give consideration to providing a similar platform to enable the Caribbean’s young women cricketers to do likewise, both regionally and internationally.

“This is my challenge to you. It’s time to expand access and opportunities for women in cricket in our region,” the Minister emphasized.

She also congratulated the Tallawahs for being the only team to win the CPL twice, and for positioning themselves to secure a third hold on the title this year.

Meanwhile, Ms. Grange made an impassioned plea for a collaborative effort to revive test cricket in the West Indies, noting that the game was in need of urgent attention regionally

In this regard, the Minister proposed that all stakeholders, including administrators, players, governments and journalists, form a coalition to chart a course aimed at returning the West Indies to the pinnacle of the five-day format of the sport globally.

“All interested parties have to knock heads to bring about the change we need. I give my commitment that I am ready to be part of the coming together in search of (a solution to revive test cricket in the) West Indies. We owe it to the people of the Caribbean and the rest of the world who have experienced the pleasures of cricket by watching the West Indies,” Ms. Grange said.