Grand Cayman, 23 May 2022 – The Department of Sports (DoS) is helping to host the second-ever U11 Girls cricket rally Wednesday, 25 May 2022. The inter-primary one-day tournament is being coordinated by the Department of Education Services (DES) in partnership also with the Cayman Islands Cricket Association and Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC).

Matches will be played at Truman Bodden Sports Complex, with four games being played simultaneously. As well as providing the sports facility grounds, the Department of Sports Schools Liaison Officer Ms Cherry Whittaker had input in creating the competition’s schedule and sourcing the rally’s umpires.

The event, first held in 2019, is fielding 17 public and private school teams with several schools entering multiple teams in the Inter Primary rally.

“As a department, we are happy to facilitate the advancement of girls’ participation in one of the region’s main sports,” said DoS Director Mr. Kurt Hyde. “We look forward to a lively competition and hope that there will be enough interest generated to assist with the setting up of a girls’ league in due course.”

Cricket is one the eight national focus sports and DES is keen to make it more inclusive in its curriculum. At present girls who are interested in competitive cricket play in the U11 Boys league.

“The one day rally will provide an opportunity for the girls to realise their full potential in cricket”, said Customer Services Manager/Coordinator of DES Events Mrs. Gloria Bell. “It will pave the way for the creation of individual women’s teams as we move into the league next year. The time has come to develop girl power in cricket as it is celebrated in football,” she added.

For the main sponsor CUC, the rally is part of its long-term youth development plan: “Over the years, the company has focused its attention on youth sports and the promotion of our core sports in the primary and secondary schools,” said Senior Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Neil Murray. “The Girls Under-11 Cricket Rally will be the perfect opportunity for the young ladies to display their talents as girls cricket develops. Best of luck to all the participating schools,” he added.