ABCA: No Jumbo Cricket This Year

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The Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) has, on the request of its members, reverted to the regular league format for the upcoming domestic season.
Via an email to all clubs, the association announced on Thursday, that it has scrapped the proposed “jumbo cricket” format that would have seen participating teams compete in three formats of the game (Two Day, 50 Overs and T20) in one competition as opposed to being separated into leagues.
The top six teams coming out of the “Jumbo Cricket” would then advance into a Premier League.
The ABCA, however, came under pressure from clubs that argued that the proposed format lessened the number of matches that some teams will play.
Former West Indies fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts also expressed reservation over the proposed format during an interview on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show.
However, following a recent executive meeting, the ABCA, decided to
forgo plans for the new format.
“We wish to inform the clubs that for the 2017 Cricket Season the tournament structure remains the same. The previous tournament structure will be retained. Everybody will play each other,” the email reads.
In December of last year, five of eight clubs objected to the  “Jumbo Cricket” format.
All Saints Cricket Club, Bethesda Sports Club, Jennings Cricket Club, Liberta Sports Club and New Winthorpes Cricket Club all signed a document objecting to the format change and also to the acceptance of one new team in the competition.
In a letter to the ABCA, dated November 16, 2016, the clubs wrote that they were of the opinion that with the new format, “some teams and players will only play cricket for eight weeks, thereby reducing exposure and opportunities for development”.
They also highlighted that the new “Jumbo Cricket” format could mean the end of both the State Insurance Super 40 and Two Day competitions.
The domestic cricket season is slated to start between February and March of this year.

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