Action in the 2024 North Zone Cricket Council League bowls off on Saturday in two divisions with 12 games on tap.
The North Zone league competition includes 16 teams in two divisions with seven rounds of matches in each division.
Senior Division Battle
The Senior Division includes newcomers QPCC and El Socorro Youth Movement, both teams were demoted from TTCB Premier II North, while Fatima College was demoted from the Senior Division, North Zone to Division One.
QPCC battle Paragon Sports and Cultural Club at Diego North Secondary School ground, while North Side Future Stars (formerly North Coast United) are on the road to take on Savannah Boys at Sweet Revenge Grounds in the Queen’s Park Savannah.
El Socorro Youth Movement will play their first game against Santa Cruz at the Brian Lara Recreation Ground in Santa Cruz.
Glenora Sports Club will host Barataria Ball Players at their home ground on the Queen’s Park Savannah, opposite the Emperor Valley Zoo.
Division One Action
In Division One action, St Mary’s College will face Fatima College at CIC Grounds, while Invincible host Shannon SC, on the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Bourg Mulatresse CCC will play Combine All Stars SC at the Ato Boldon Recreation Ground in Bourg Mulatresse.
Finally, Pole 9 will host Ebony S&CC at the North Zone Ground on the Queen’s Park Savannah.
New champions will be crowned in the North Zone as 2023 winners Police were promoted to the TTCB Premier II Division North, after an unbeaten season. Police also went on to win the 40-over and T20 tournaments in 2023.
The Lawmen won six games and drew one game in racing up 112 points for the 2023 season ahead of Barataria Ball Players (82). Police also went on to win the 40-over and T20 tournaments in 2023.
“On the cusp of the new season, we are hoping for a clean start to competition in 2024. We will be managing 16 teams and 12 matches at 12 different venues,” said North Zone chairman Winston Sobers.
“While I say that, we have had challenges in preparing grounds with the Carnival season coming up and, possibly, could have issues surrounding umpires,” he added.
Sobers explained that they may have a limited number of umpires for at least the first round of the competition. The North Zone chairman hoped the situation would improve as the tournament progressed.
“We hope to get around these challenges and we are looking forward to a bright start to the new season,” said Sobers.
The Senior Division and Division One teams will play two-day matches, while the Senior Reserve teams will play a T20 match on Saturday and a 35-over match on Sunday.
The North Zone Cricket Council also reminds teams to have all COVID-19 protocols in place as per recent guidelines put out by the Ministry of Health.
