BPL Promises High Level Cricket Entertainment
[Written by Patrick Bean]
Bermuda is on the brink of embracing the T20 franchise tournament format, which has rapidly emerged as one of the most lucrative platforms in cricket.
The abbreviated version continues to captivate audiences worldwide with its unrelenting entertainment value and next month’s inaugural Bermuda Premier League [BPL] promises to deliver the same.
While a more traditional, international formatted competition, as opposed to the franchise models found in India [IPL], Australia [Big Bash], England [The Hundred] and many others, corresponding excitement and drama is expected.
Entrants into the first ever BPL include Barbados’ revered senior men’s team, Antigua’s talent filled Grassroots Cricket Academy, Bermuda’s senior men and a select squad of local, emerging talent, with White Hill Field and the National Sports Centre’s North Field the host venues.
Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] cricket committee chairman Steven Douglas is optimistic that this year’s inaugural BPL event, slated for September 6-10, will provide a solid foundation to build upon and plant Bermuda as viable destination for T20 specialists the world over.
“It’s starting to shape up,” said Douglas of the impending spectacular. “Everything is starting to come together.
“It’s never going to be how we wanted it in the beginning, but this being the first year we will accept what we do get and then we can always build on it going forward.
“We’re trying to do a similar thing as the established leagues around the world.
“You want to start at a certain level first and have some control of it and after that you can grow it, because right now we don’t actually know the value of this tournament yet.
“It may take us three to five years to understand and realize the exact value of it and then we can really expand on it and have it blossom fully.
“Hopefully, with the connection with Antigua and Barbados we can get some more quality players coming here again next year and also work with the other reasons in terms of getting more high level players.
“We would want to get players that participate in the Canadian T20 and the American Major League.”
This year’s BPL will be of greatest importance to the national team as they ready themselves for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas region qualifier to be held on the island in September/October and feature the likes of Cayman Islands, Panama, and powerhouse Canada, with only the first place country going through.
It will also allow those on the fringes to gain valuable experience of high level play, as well as the requirements and trappings that come with intense international competition.
“There will be some very high quality cricket demonstrated,” said Douglas. “One of the things we want to do with this tournament is to give our national players real game situations, simulation and high level, intense games.
“The Barbados select should give Bermuda a push similar to that which they would expect from Canada.
“They will get the chance to fine tune themselves before going into the last week or two of preparation for the ICC America’s tournament,” said Douglas.
Resident Barbadians will get the chance to see their country’s and West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite lead Bim, while Antiguan natives can get a peek at the rising stars of Grassroots Cricket Academy, whose youth may prove deceptive once embroiled in live action.
“Amari Ebbin informed us of many of the players playing in England and Australia and explained to me how they have some very good and exciting young talent.
“One of the things we want to do with this tournament is to give our national players real game situations, simulation and high level, intense games.
“The whole reason behind this here, is to grow and develop our players.
“It costs us a pretty penny to go on a tour, but sometimes hosting a tour can be more profitable in terms of exposing not only the national squad, but the fringe players also and it helps to grow everybody.
“And not only the players, but also our ground staff, scorers, umpires, everybody will get a chance to actually grow in the game, whereby it benefits our cricket overall.
“Also from an administrative point in our administrators having to organize something like this, seeking sponsors and the various elements logistically and otherwise that go into being able to produce a successful, international event.
“The board doesn’t have any other funding that it makes, so this gives us an opportunity to generate funding for when we want to take away team for tournaments overseas.
“For example the Under-19 just came back from Canada, which for many was their first tournament. We’re hopeful that we can build on our relationships with Barbados and Antigua in that we can take our younger players down there to train, play, compete and improve.”
There is a hope of further modelling the tournament in a similar vein as the Bermuda Rugby Classic as a means of enhancing Bermuda’s sports tourism product.
