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By Neto Baptiste
For the first time since the global Covid 19 pandemic, teams taking part in the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) Super40 Competition, will compete in two zones with the top two teams from each zone advancing to the semifinals.
This was revealed by head of the body’s Competitions Committee, Kenny Lewis, who said the association, in consultation with the clubs, opted to revert to the zonal format given the limited window they now have to complete the competition, which is slated to bowl off on Saturday.
“We had actually spoken about a structure we wanted to implement, meaning that we were going to have the Super 40 with everybody playing each other and then we would have an eliminator but we will have to scrap that based on time so we will now have two zones and have two semifinals and a final. The top two in each zone will play each other with the winners of Zone A playing the runner ups of Zone B and visa-versa,” he said.
In the past few years following the pandemic, the 10 ABCA teams competed in a round-robin format with the team finishing at the top of the standings advancing to the final while teams finishing second and third face off in an eliminator. The team emerging victorious from the eliminator advanced to the final.
However, faced with a number of stoppages this year to include the staging of the newly introduced Antigua and Barbuda T20 Premier League and the recently held Leeward Islands T20 Festival, the ABCA was forced to put it’s programme on hold.
Lewis assured that the body is fully prepared ahead of Saturday’s start to the Super40 as they push to have it completed before the start of the 2025 Carnival festivities.
“We’re going to do a little walk-through at the grounds and let’s say we go to Bethesda and Bethesda is not ready then that would give us ample time to move the game but from all indications, everything is a go. When we send out our correspondence, we will let the clubs know that there will be alternative venues so that in case of anything, by Friday [June 13], we will go and do our assessment and so on and if there is a grey area we’re not comfortable with then it’s time to make an adjustment. The playing conditions will give you the opportunity to move any game at anytime,” the official said.
Defending champions Liberta Blackhawks heads Zone A alongside All Saints Pythons, Bethesda Golden Eagles, Pigotts Crushers and Rising Sun Spartans while Zone B houses Bolans Blasters, New Winthorpes Lions, Empire Nation, Jennings Tigers and Tertiary Institutions and Schools.
In Zone A, Blackhawks will host Pigotts Crushers in their opening match on Saturday while Spartans travel to All Saints. Zone B action will see Jennings Tigers host their neighbours Bolans Blasters while TI & Schools hosts Empire Nation at Factory. All matches will bowl off at 11 am.
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