The combined Police and Prison Cricket Team (PPCT) is this week hosting the first 20-20 Tournament inAnguillaas part of the 40th Anniversary of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
Five teams are competing for the Commissioner’s Trophy during the week-long tournament which began at the Webster Park on Monday. They are the Worcester City Police Cricket Club, captained by Graham Bloomfield; the BVI Police Cricket Team whose Captain is Kenneth Jordan; three local teams: Masters’ Cricket Team; the Anguilla Cricket Association Eleven; and Police and Prison Cricket Team. The objective of the tournament, according to Neville Hamilton, Vice President of the PPCT, was to contribute to sports tourism; improve relations between colleagues regionally and internationally; assist with the development of young cricketers; and to provide competitiveness among players.
Captain Bloomfield was pleased that his team was able to participate in the tournament and hoped that it would be possible for a team from Anguilla to visitWorcesternext year as part of their ongoing relationship.
Captain Kenneth Jordan said the BVI Police Team was on its second trip to Anguilla, the first having been last year. He was delighted that it was competing in the tournament and re-uniting with the Worcester City Police Club which visited the BVI in 2011.
Other speakers at the opening of the tournament at the Webster Park were
Deputy Director of Social Security, Maglan Richardson, who said the Board was happy to have sponsored the tournament and wished all of the teams much success. And also Deputy Director of Sports, Rollins Richardson, and Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, who joined in welcoming the visiting teams.
Meanwhile, Tommy Hodge, General Manager of Anguilla Electricity Company, said he was proud that ANGLEC had undertaken to sponsor the Anguilla Cricket Association’s team in terms of uniforms. A keen supporter of cricket, he said that having the youngsters involved in the sport was a very good way of harnessing their energies considering the many negative distractions that could attract their attention.
The 20-20 Tournament will climax on Saturday, January 28. with a presentation ceremony for the winning team and other players for outstanding performance.
