Before a large crowd of Cricket fans and invited guests at the Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, BIG League USA announced the Launch of the BIG Broward Cricket League and the BIG Broward Cricket Academy.
Guyana PM Sam Hinds, BIG League CEO Salman Ahmed with 2 League team captains.
It was a rare sight as all the teams lined up in uniforms spread across the stadium along with all the Diplomats and VIP guests, similar to the start of a major international series.
The initiative is being funded and managed by BIG League USA. A total of eight teams will compete in the BIG Broward Cricket League. The League began on November 6th and the grand finale will be on December 18th 2010. All the matches will be played at the only ICC Certified Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. League players are all excited at the opportunity to play in such a grand Stadium. International curator Samuel Plummer is responsible for ensuring that a world class pitch is prepared for all the games. A total of 5 pitches are being prepared and used for the several games.
The prize money for the six weeks tournament is, Two thousand dollars ( $2,000.00 ) awarded to the Champion team, One thousand dollars ( $1,000.00 ) to the runner up and five hundred dollars ( $500.00 ) will go to the Tournament MVP.
The BIG Broward Cricket Academy begins on November 13th. The Academy will hold its sessions every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. at the Cricket Stadium. Rick Toolsie, Academy Director welcomes everyone to register with the Academy. Certified coaches will be on hand to lend their expertise.
Guyana’s Prime Minister Samuel Hinds attended the Launch. Mr. Hinds said “ I’m amazed to see such a beautiful setting for Cricket in Florida and I applaud BIG League USA for this initiative.”
Lisa Abraham, CEO of Queens Park Oval in Trinidad & Tobago, offered “an exchange of expertise in the form of coaches and other assistance.”
American College Cricket President Lloyd Jodah praised BIG League USA CEO Salman Ahmed for his “strong support for the Cricket Stadium and the initiatives of BIG League USA, which add to the efforts of American College Cricket to make the CBRP Stadium a center of cricket in the USA ”
Among the invited VIP’s attending were Hazel Rogers, Florida State Representative; Dale Holnes, Broward County Commissioner; Ram Ali, Guyana Consulate General; Leslie Johnson, Lauderhill Operations Manager; Duncan Finch, Manager Central Broward Regional Park; and Mohammad Manaf, USACA 2nd VP.
Mr. Ahmed introduced an innovative form of Cricket to the invited guests and Cricket Fans. Mr. Ahmed stated that “for the first time a T10 competition will begin on Wednesday evening at the Stadium. Two innings of 10 overs will be played. We believe that this BIG League USA initiative will be well received by the Cricket community.”
Over all it is a relief for everyone to see that at last cricket is being played regularly at the only ICC Certified Cricket Stadium in North America, located in the city of Lauderhill, Broward County.
BIG League USA has a multimillion dollar budget to develop cricket and is closely working with USA Cricket Association, the only official cricket body responsible for cricket in USA as per rules and regulations of ICC. BIG League USA will utilise the same formula for development of cricket with other leagues across New York, New Jersey, Texas, California, Mid-Atlantic and where ever else cricket is played.