Max60 Caribbean League targets Bermuda
A new addition to Bermuda’s domestic cricket calendar is on the horizon with the Max60 Caribbean League, a fledgeling franchise-based T10 tournament, eyeing an expansion to the island.
Max60’s inaugural action has cast the spotlight on a territory that is not so well known for cricket — Cayman Islands, where five teams, all filled with international stars, are fighting for honours. The winner will be decided on Sunday at the Jimmy Powell Oval Cricket Stadium in Georgetown, Grand Cayman.
Boca Raton Trailblazers, Caribbean Giants, Grand Cayman Stingrays, Miami Lions and New York Strikers, the Abu Dhabi T10 champions, are the five teams seeking glory in Cayman.
Former Australia opening batter David Warner, Pakistani-born Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, ex-England opener Alex Hales, West Indies star Dwayne Bravo and Sri Lankan Thisara Perera have been entrusted with leadership roles for their sides.
The tournament, backed by Caribbean cricket boards and sanctioned by the International Cricket Council, is promising to become a global sensation and is owned by United Arab Emirates-based BMP Sports.
The league has each team facing a maximum of 60 balls — hence the name Max60. With ten overs per side, the format of the game is designed for aggressive batting, well-planned bowling and sharp fielding, ensuring non-stop action from start to finish.
From Cayman, the second tournament is set to be hosted by Bahamas next year. With cricket bigger in Bermuda than Cayman and Bahamas, as shown by the ICC T20 rankings, those behind Max60 are keen to tap into the island’s love for the sport.
Dario Barthley, the Max60 chief executive, could not delve much into their expansion plans, bud did confirm that they were in talks with the Bermuda Cricket Board.
“I would like to finalise with the cricket association before doing an interview, but we’re definitely open to it,’’ the former Cricket West Indies media officer said.
Bermudians have already been captivated by the BCB-run Bermuda Premier League, whose second edition is slated for September 9 to 15, as well as the Bermuda Smash Invitational — fronted by Bailey’s Bay president Stephen Outerbridge.
Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has already tasted playing in front of Bermudian crowds, after he appeared for Hamilton Parish Hurricanes in the Smash Invitational. The 36-year-old is one of the international superstars playing in the Max60.
While Max60 would be another valuable edition to the island’s domestic calendar, the challenge could be trying to squeeze it into an already packed schedule.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the BCB were fruitless, as Calvin Blankendal, the executive director, refused to speak while president Lloyd Smith was unavailable.
In Cayman, Max60 has ensured that the local cricketers received their highest-ever paycheques.
“The payments ensured major international players could be secured alongside some amazing emerging talent internationally and Caymans local players, 15 of whom will be paid higher than ever before,’’ Barthley told Forbes.
Capturing the prized signature of Warner also did the trick for the tournament. The explosive left-hander bowed out of international cricket after this year’s T20 World Cup, hosted by the West Indies and United States.
The presence of the Australian has resulted in a huge interest from broadcasters in Britain, the US, India, Australia, sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, as well as across the Caribbean where matches will be screened live.
“David Warner is a huge signing and association for this league,’’ Barthley said. “I mean, he has done all there is to do in T20 cricket and we are blessed to have him endorse this league and display his talent for the people of the Cayman Islands and the world.”
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