The Carib Beer Cricket Series 2005-2006 was launched last Thursday in St. George’s, Grenada.

The region’s premier cricket competition was launched at the Grenada Grand View last Thursday with officials from Carib Brewery and West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Chief Executive Officer of WICB, Roger Brathwaite said that the reformatting of this year’s game is due to WICB financial problems.

It was announced that the Carib Beer Series was cut in half because of the state of the board’s finances.

WICB indicated that “while long term benefits are expected from the recent ICC initiatives, the impact of the Future Tours Programme has resulted in a reduction of revenue to the WICB of some US$8million over the past four years.

It was pointed out that this has severely impacted the Board’s finances making it necessary for the WICB to restructure its operations and to undertake a comprehensive review of current expenditures.”

Brathwaite announced the rounds of games to be played among the territories were reduced from 10 to five and the competition was forced to start two weeks after the original date of November 11.

He said the competition will climax with the Carib Beer Challenge, a semi-final play off among the top four teams in the region and the finals involving the two victorious teams.

Carib Brewery Limited Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sabga admitted this new format does not give the players the opportunity to play enough cricket and wanted it reviewed for the next series.

Sabga indicated that Carib sponsorship of the game is testimony of the importance the company places on sports. He described the competition as one which helps to identify the best cricketers that the region has to offer.

This tournament, he said provides an opportunity for the players to showcase their talents and to gain selection on the West Indies team. “Competition like these act like the catalyst for West Indies Cricket”, he remarked. Sabga asked the players to give off their best in the championship and to compete in the true spirit of sportsmanship.

Minister of Sports Adrian Mitchell who was present said that sports has a integral part to play in the development of the country and was looking forward to the day when sports becomes a major economic contributor to the Caribbean.

Minister Mitchell thanked Carib for its continued sponsorship of the game in the region. Round one of the game started last week with Jamaica playing the Leeward Islands, and Guyana playing Barbados.

Round Two starts this weekend with Jamaica playing the Windard Islands, and the Leeward Islands playing Trinidad and Tobago. The series will end on February 14, 2006.