Arnos Vale readying to host ‘unofficial tests’

Persons attending the two “unofficial tests” matches between West Indies A and Pakistan A later this month, here, at the Arnos Vale One Playing Field, will get free admission.{{more}}

The first test is set for November 18 to 21, with the second slated for November 24 to 27.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), last week, announced that all the matches between the two teams will be free to spectators.

This was done to encourage persons to attend the matches, as part of the WICB’s development thrust.

The series began last weekend with two T/ 20 matches in Antigua and Barbuda, which the regional side won. On Friday, the West Indies A defeated their counterparts by one run in a thriller, which required a “super over”.

On Saturday night, the West Indies triumphed more convincingly by five wickets.

The two outfits start their One Day series today, Tuesday, in Grenada, with the first of three matches.

The second game is set for this Thursday, November 11, while the third is slated for next Sunday, November 14.

They then head here to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for their four day engagement.

When the West Indies Women’s Senior Cricket Competition was staged here in August, an EC$ 5 entrance fee was charged for the matches at Arnos Vale, while those at Stubbs and the Victoria Park, had free admission.

Coach of the West Indies A team, Barbadian Hendy Springer, outlined that the main purpose of the A Team is to develop players for the higher level.

This is the fourth series this year for the West Indies A Team. In April, they played against Zimbabwe; in May, they toured Bangladesh; and in June they had a full tour of England, where they played against the England Lions and India A.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ staging of the two cricket matches this month, crowns a year of unprecedented hosting of sporting events.

This country hosted three One Day Internationals between the West Indies and Zimbabwe senior teams in March.

There was also the hosting of the Windwards Under-19 Cricket Competition, the inaugural Windward Island Senior T/20 Competition and the West Indies Senior Women’s Competition.

Football had its share too, as one group of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championships was hosted here, as well as Group B of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

The Caribbean Area Squash Association Senior Tournament, also came this way, along with the OECS Under-23 Netball Tournament and the ITF Junior Tennis Tournament for Under 14s and Under 18s. (RT)