Barbados Royals announce launch of 'Royals Cricket Cup' in order to promote local grassroots talent

National, 05 August 2023: CPL franchise Barbados Royals have announced the introduction of 'The Barbados Royals Cricket Cup' with the aim of activating local grassroots talent in the island nation, and providing them with an additional platform to perform and develop. The franchise group has previously organized similar competitions for young and upcoming Indian and South African players through their presence in Rajasthan and Paarl respectively, and are keen on making a similar impact on the grassroots cricket ecosystem in Barbados.

The first-ever Barbados Royals Cricket Cup will be organized on 9th August 2023 at the KMV Oval, Isolation Cricket Club in St. Andrew, Barbados, which will see participation from close to combined 70 players from the U15 age group (boys) and U19 age group (girls). The participating boys have been divided into 4 teams which are named after Royals' star players - Holder's Heroes, Mayers' Magicians, Powell's Powerhouses, and Simmonds' Strikers. Meanwhile, the participating girls will be seen playing cricket with some of the Royals' players present at the event.

While the four teams will be competing on the ground, the franchise has decided to blend quality cricketing action with food and local band performances in order to create an unforgettable experience for the fans, keeping the festive spirit in mind. Cricket enthusiasts can walk-in for free and enjoy the thrills of this one-day extravaganza, which aims to be a celebration of sport, culture, and community coming together in the spirit of the game.

The franchise will be providing players from the winning boys' team with exciting opportunities and exposure to the CPL and the Barbados Royals' players. In the process, the Royals will become the first franchise in the CPL to introduce the concept of having ball boys and girls for the matches being held at the Kensington Oval in Barbados in late August and early September. The players of the winning team will also be rewarded with CPL and WCPL tickets, providing them and their families with an opportunity to witness high-quality, international-standard cricket that will be on display. All participating players will also be rewarded for their participation with certificates.

The franchise is working in conjunction with the Barbados Cricket Association, the Ministry of Youth, Sport & Community Empowerment, Barbados Tourism, and the Caribbean Premier League to ensure maximum impact. Some of Royals' Barbados-based star players and support staff such as Nyeem Young, Ramon Simmonds, Justin Greaves, Akeem Jordan, Joshua Bishop, and Roddy Estwick are also expected to attend the Cricket Cup and cheer for the participating players.

Jake Lush McCrum, Chief Executive Officer, Barbados Royals, commented on the occasion, "Our emphasis through such initiatives is focused on providing more opportunities to young, budding cricketers and giving them a platform to express themselves, while also bringing them closer to those at the top of the game. The Royals Cricket Cup is set to uncover this talent in a fun-filled environment that we hope the local community will come out in their numbers and enjoy."

“It is always pleasing to see CPL franchises engaging in the community and this fantastic initiative from the Barbados Royals will only help to further cement the CPL as a part of the community in the country. We are looking forward to hearing of the exploits of these young cricketers and welcoming the winners to CPL and WCPL matches in the coming weeks,” said Pete Russell, Chief Executive Officer, of CPL.