The Cayman Islands national cricket team is in Fort Lauderdale competing in the International Cricket Council Americas T20 tournament against the United States, Bahamas, Suriname and Bermuda.
The top two places from this tournament go to the next level in October in Dubai, challenging for a spot in the World T20 tournament.
Most significantly, the senior team’s performances carry 35 per cent of the ICC scorecard for annual funding.
Technical director Theo Cuffy said: “The cricket association’s strategic plan is fulfilling the mandate towards the other aspects of the scorecard. Areas like officiating, coaching, competitions – seniors, juniors, women and grounds – are properly managed by various committees.
“Non-ICC funding continues to be a work in progress as worthwhile contributions are received annually from government and sponsors LIME and Mourant Ozannes,” he added. “Hopefully, more corporate companies will come on board. We are the smallest country amongst the ICC Associates and Affiliates but we are being heard.”
With such a rich legacy to follow, which began in 2000 when Michael Wight led the Cayman Islands team to its first appearance in the ICC Americas tournament, captain Abali Hoilett and his team began preparation in November under the guidance of coaches Pearson Best and Franklin Hinds.
“It is at times like these that we must remember and say thank you for the outstanding contributions from various administrators and coaches from the years of the Jimmy Powell lead executive to president Courtney Myles,” Cuffy said.
On the field there are players like the history making Wight brothers Chris, David, Philip and Michael, as well as Larry Cunningham, Oscar Owen, Stedman Gray, Carley James, Kenute Tulloch, Franklin Hinds, Pearson Best, Steve Gordon and Ainsley Hall.
Ten players from the 2013 team have graduated from the cricket association’s coaching programme.
SQUAD: Abali Hoilett (captain), Ronald Ebanks (vice-capt), Ramon Sealy, Zachary McLaughlin, Kervin Ebanks, Marlon Bryan, Troy Taylor, Vincent Ebanks, Jalon Linton, Omar Willis, Conroy Wright, Ian Rotsey, Alessandro Morris and Kevin Bazil. Pearson Best (coach), Franklin Hinds (assistant coach), Stephen Best (manager).
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