Women’s T20 League Set To Be Launched
[Written by Stephen Wright]
A Women’s T20 Cricket League will be launched next month as part of the Bermuda Cricket Board’s aim to revive the domestic and international programme.
The league starts on Sunday, April 30 and will feature seven teams – Bailey’s Bay, Flatts Victoria, Somerset Bridge, Southampton Rangers, St George’s, Western Stars and Warwick Workmen’s Club.
The BCB relaunched its women and girls programme last year as part of its five-year strategic plan, starting with weekly indoor softball sessions.
Kellie Smith, the BCB vice-president and development officer, said the T20 league will expand on the three-team T10 competition held at Bailey’s Bay and Police Field last summer, featuring Bay, Warwick and Western Stars.
Last summer, a women’s team called Sluggo’s Angels, coached by former Bermuda player Dwayne Leverock, also entered the T15 Backyard League at Police Field.
“The T10 league last summer was a stepping stone to the T20 league,” Smith told Bernews. “The interest in the women’s game is growing globally and on the island.
“We want to keep inspiring and empowering girls to come out and play cricket. The vision is to grow female participation in Bermuda.”
In order to gain Women’s T20 International status [WT20I], Bermuda must expand the league to eight teams, which Smith hopes will happen next summer.
Fifty-eight nations have WT20I status, including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Belize and Costa Rica.
“In order to play internationally, we have to play T20 cricket,” Smith said. “That’s the requirement. Hopefully, the new league will spark other women to play and help us qualify for ICC competitions.
“There are lots of opportunities for female cricketers nowadays. We have three players playing cricket in schools in the UK.”
Smith said the BCB, which runs a Pee Wee ‘Have a Go’ programme for 5 to 7-year-olds, is focused on growing the game from the grassroots level and has encouraged local clubs to form under-8, under-11 and under-13 teams.
To register for the new league, visit www.cricketbermuda.com, email info@cricket.bm or call 292-8958.
