ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Jacqueline Williams will create history later this year, when she becomes the first female umpire to ever officiate in the Regional 4-Day Tournament.
The 39-year-old from the western Jamaica community of Ashton in the parish of Westmoreland will stand in the middle with international umpire Peter Nero for the fifth round match in the WICB Professional League R4Day between Jamaica Scorpions and Guyana Jaguars from December 11 to 14 at Sabina Park in her nation’s capital of Kingston.
“It’s a humbling feeling to know that I will have this opportunity,” said Williams. “I have put in the hard work over the last few years, it’s been seen and now it is paying off for me.
“I still am pinching myself to know that it is real and will be happening. I am not overawed at the prospect of standing in a match with male players – I have done it before at the club level – but it is still a learning experience for me and I am just open to all of the challenges it will bring.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) when they meet on November 9 for their annual general meeting in Mumbai, would have on the agenda, cricket relations with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
Two weeks ago president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron and chief executive officer Michael Muirhead met with the president of the BCCI Shashank Manohar and general secretary Anurag Thakur in Mumbai after they visited Sri Lanka for the first two days of the opening Test in Galle.
President Cameron at that point told Guardian Media that the meeting centered around resuming bi-lateral relations between the two boards, after the Indians had severed ties following the aborted tour to India last October. Cameron reported that the meeting went very well and he is awaiting the BCCI response.
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) wishes to congratulate Captain Rayad Emrit, opening batsman Evin Lewis and all-rounder Kevon Cooper on their selection in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The trio have requested release from their retainer contracts (with the Board) which runs from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016.
“Whilst the departure of these players is a blow to the Red Force team which begins its challenge for the WICB’s PCL title in just over a week’s time, it creates opportunities for several other young players to step up and make a name for themselves,” said TTCB’s Chief Executive Officer Suruj Ragoonath.
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (CMC) – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell will campaign in the South African Ram Slam Twenty20 League for a second straight year after signing for VKB Knights ahead Sunday’s start of the new campaign.
Russell, currently on tour with the West Indies limited overs side in Sri Lanka, is set to link up with the Knights from November 15.
Last season, the 27-year-old was one of the leading players for the Knights, scoring 182 runs at an average of 30 and a strike-rate of 200, to fire them into the final of the championship where they eventually lost to Cobras.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons will continue in his post as head coach after his meeting with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Human Resources committee over a public outburst, ended with just a slap on the wrist, well placed sources within the WICB told Guardian Media. Simmons was suspended by the WICB after he alleged that there was ‘outside’ influence in the non-selection of T&T players Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard. He was replaced by selector Eldine Baptiste as coach for the current series in Sri Lanka. Simmons met with the Committee and CEO of the WICB, Michael Muirhead last Wednesday and he was warned about his outburst and told that comments like those would not be tolerated in the future.
