Carib Beer sponsors West Indian first-class cricket

With time ticking away and reports over uncertainty of sponsorship of its annual first-class championships, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has secured a five-year deal with one of the Caribbean's most popular beers. Carib Beer has reached a five-year agreement to become the title sponsor of the West Indies four-day first-class championship. It has now been renamed the Carib Beer Cricket Series.

As in the previous two years, the championship will involve two stages to decide, first, the Carib Beer Cup (top territorial team) and, subsequently, the winners of the Carib Beer International Challenge.

"Along with the recent announcement of our relationship with Trinidad and Tobago cricket, this is an exciting addition to our sponsorship list," said Norman Sabga, chairman and chief executive officer of Ansa McAl, the group that owns Carib Brewery.

"The West Indies first-class cricket championship, now the Carib Beer Cricket Series, is one of the biggest competitions on the Caribbean sports calendar. We see a close link between Carib beer and the West Indies first-class competition.

"As the official beer of the West Indies cricket team, our vision is for Carib Beer to become the most sought after Caribbean beer in the international market place, consolidating our position as the beer of the Caribbean.

"We know this vision will not be lost on many of the players who will participate in the Carib Beer Cricket Series, as they, too, seek to be among some of the most sought after cricketers in the world."

Reverend Wes Hall, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, agreed that Carib Beer and cricket were firmly rooted in the way of life of Caribbean people.

"We've enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Carib Beer over the years and we are very pleased that this relationship has been expanded to the West Indies first-class championship as the title sponsor," Hall said.

"This is a very important competition in West Indies cricket as it is a stepping stone for players into the senior West Indies team. We are looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with one of the premier companies in the Caribbean."

Carib Beer was previously involved with West Indies cricket when they were the Official Sponsor of the West Indies team to the 1999 World Cup in Britain and the tour of the same nation a year later.

Carib Beer is the flagship brand of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Carib Brewery, a truly Caribbean company with brands of high international standing and repute.

In the previous first years, the regional first-class series was sponsored by Busta, whose contract came to an end last season.

Eight teams will contest the Carib Beer Cricket Series that opens on January 31.

They are territorial teams Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands, as well as a West Indies `B' team (Under-23s) and international invitees, India "A".