UNICOMER invests $75k in Women’s T20 Grand Slam

Apart from the local female players there are eight West Indies players from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada and St Lucia who will strengthen the franchise teams- TECU Southern Titans, Creation Group Gladiators, KJ Sports Eastern Diamonds and Sacha Northern Starblazers, as they prepare to do battle for top honours in the newly-launched T20 tournament that will be sponsored by Unicomer Courts Trinidad Limited to the tune of $75,000.

Jamaican Shanel Daley and Grenada’s Akeira Peters have been drafted to the TECU Southern Titans which is led by Trinidad and Tobago’s successful captain Merissa Aguilleira and also includes her triumphant West Indies player Britney Cooper. Barbadian exciting opener Hayley Matthews and her WI World T20 winning compatriot Shamila Connell lines up with the Kieron Pollard- owned franchise know as KJ Sports Eastern Diamonds.

Guyana’s West Indies all-rounder Shemaine Campbell and Barbados Shakera Selman will play for the Creation Group Central Gladiators that have West Indies spinner Anisa Mohammed as their captain while Grenada’s Afy Fletcher and Jamaica’s Chedean Nation will show their talents for the Sacha Northern Starblazers.

According to Sururj Ragoonath, TT CB’s CEO, the regional players’ airline return fares and stipends will be sponsored by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago which will also assist with the tournament. The players are expected to arrive today for training sessions tomorrow and Sunday.

Ragoonath outlined the concept and value of the franchise tournament and thanked the sponsors for their support to help promote women’s cricket in TT .

At the media launch held at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva yesterday, Roger Rambharose, Unicomer Commercial Director, expressed joy for his Company to be the major sponsor for first-ever women’s T20 franchise tournament in the Caribbean. He expects the tournament to serve as the catalyst to identify and encourage new talented cricketers in the region who will eventually represent the West Indies team.

Rambharose also emphasised the value of their 15-year association with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and the value of their sponsorship over the years. “This is a most significant event for us, as it celebrates another historic moment in the evolution of Women’s cricket. We have had a long and very fruitful relationship within the cricket fraternity. And this partnership further pushes the envelope for the development of the sport to new heights.

We see this as our investment in building the potential of our people and our communities,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the women cricketers, an emotional Aguilleira was overwhelmed and thanked everyone.

“We are so thankful to everyone, especially the sponsors who have come on board to help us develop our talent and to create new opportunities for women cricketers to be better prepared for regional and international competitions.

We, the players are so excited to play and entertain everyone.

Competition will be strong and already the players are talking up their chances,” an excited Aguilleira said.