The Grenada Cricket Association and the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) as part of strengthening and promoting the game of cricket in Grenada departed the Maurice Bishop International Airport on Wednesday evening to the United Kingdom to participate in a promotional cricket tour of friendly matches carded for July 21st – August 6th, 2022.
The twenty-man team consisting of players and officials Grenada cricket legends Devon Smith, Andre Fletcher, Junior Murray as well as emerging young players, departed on Wednesday in their brand Uniform, from Stone Hill, and The Grenada Board of Tourism, with one mission that selling Grenada as a thriving cricketing destination, as well as showcasing their own cricket talent.
Before their departure, Minister for Youth, Sports & Culture- Hon. Ron Redhead met with the team and bid them a safe journey but reminded them, that they have awesome responsibility going out there to be Ambassadors not for themselves but also for their country.
He told the players that he doesn’t expect them to underperform given their level of knowledge and experience in the sport, however
as they can certainly take cricket in Grenada to the next level. He further assured the team, that the Ministry of Sports is willing to invest in them and believes fully in Sports Tourism. He ended by imploring them to find that time to enjoy the experience.
President of the Grenada Cricket Association Dwain Gill who headed the delegation also address the delegation. According to him, UK tour is geared toward promoting Grenada through sports. He noted, that Grenada Tourism Authority, in using some of the country’s best cricketers to play a number of friendly matches, is also an opportunity for the local players to showcase their skills and at the same time promotes Grenada as cricketing destination.
“We expect that the guys on board, will go out there and really represent Grenada well and hopefully the West Indians in London will come out and look at good exciting cricket”. Gill shared
GTA Marketing & Sales Manager- Nickoyan Roberts also
addressed the team, noting that this Uk tour is an opportunity for the team’s personal development. Players, she said have the opportunity to be viewed by talent scouts adding that it is also a chance for Grenada to continue with the thrust to identify the UK market, which is the country’s second-largest source market in terms of revenue earnings, and foreign exchange.
“We have worked really hard to ensure that UK market would be beneficial in terms of Grenada’s growth and expansion for our tourism visitors”, Roberts indicated.
The Grenada team will appear in a number of matches against different teams, among them, the Club Cricket Conference (CCC), United Kingdom Armed Forces Cricket Association (UKAFCA), and Hertfordshire County Cricket Club. They will also face Northampton shire in a 50-over game.
English