The Cayman Islands national cricket team will take on four international teams this month as the islands play host to the inaugural North American Cup.
The T20 limited overs tournament, which is slated to be held again in Cayman next year, will take place on 19-27 April at the Jimmy Powell Oval.
“This tournament, which originated from discussions at last year’s annual ICC Conference in Sri Lanka, marks a historic moment for the Cayman Islands,” said Cayman Cricket President Courtney Myles in a press release announcing the championship.
“We are honored that Cayman Cricket will be hosting this prestigious event for two consecutive years, and we see it as a significant opportunity for our players to gauge and elevate their performance levels.”
The Cayman team will take on seasoned and emerging cricket talent from the four other participating national teams — the United States, Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Organisers described the North American Cup as a collaborative effort among the cricket boards in the region to boost their international exposure, strengthen regional ties, and offer a more competitive match experience to associate nations. They noted that, with the sport continuing to grow in new markets, the tournament is expected to be the first of many cricket events in the region.
“As cricket takes its rightful place on the Olympic stage, we are proud to launch the ‘North America Championship’, a milestone moment for the sport in our region. This Championship marks a vital stepping stone in strengthening cricket across the Americas, both competitively and commercially,” said Venu Pisike, chair of USA Cricket, in the release.
The tournament will be played in the T20 format, with teams competing in a group stage, followed by playoffs to determine the champion.
Myles said the tournament would serve “as a catalyst for sports tourism by strengthening communications among the tourism departments of all participating countries”.
He added, “We are excited to leverage this event to promote Cayman’s vibrant sporting culture and our commitment to enhancing international collaboration.”
A T20 tournament differs from traditional cricket games, which can be played over a whole day or up to five days for a Test match, in that T20 games take fewer than three hours with both teams getting just 20 overs to bat.
Match times
Cayman will be playing the visiting teams at the following times and dates:
- Cayman Islands vs. United States
10am, Saturday, 19 April - Cayman Islands vs. Bermuda
2:30pm, Sunday, 20 April - Cayman Islands vs. Canada
10am, Wednesday, 23 April - Cayman Islands vs. Bahamas
10am, Thursday, 24 April
All games will be played at the Jimmy Powell Oval.