Digicel and the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) joined the St. Michael School at Desmond Haynes Oval in Barbados to launch their regional tour for the Digicel Youth Cricket Series. As the winner of the digital voting campaign in Barbados, the school had a one day session with Barbadian native and Barbados Tridents bowler, Jason Holder and Digicel Youth Cricket Series Head Coach, Vasbert Drakes.

“Digicel has worked with athletes for almost as long as we’ve been in existence. We believe in sports as a positive outlet for youth and we work to provide opportunities for them to become the sporting stars of the future.  The Digicel Youth Cricket Series is one such programme that offers children access to the best players and coaches that CPL has to offer”, said Tari Lovell, Group Sponsorship Manager for Digicel.

As a past student of St. Michael School, Holder was proud to pass on some of his knowledge to the current students. “I am pleased with the turnout of students today and being able to be a part of a program such as this that will hopefully produce some bright sparks. I also want to thank Digicel for hosting this program and for showing their support and sponsorship.”

The Digicel Youth Cricket Series will continue in the five remaining CPL countries – Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana – and will feature a local CPL player and coach working with the winning schools. The development of future West Indian cricketers through the youth series helps to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the sport in the region.

Coach Drakes said of the session with the students, “I am happy to be here and to be a part of this programme to share knowledge and create a fun and learning environment and being able to give back to the community.”

Digicel and the CPL have had a long-standing partnership and over the years have worked together to create ‘the biggest party in sport’; the carnival atmosphere of the CPL has made the game approachable and exciting for many and draws in fans from all over the world to watch the games each year, either in the stadium, on television or through digital media.

Digicel has also played a fundamental role in bringing CPL to a wider audience through their mobile, social and television platforms across the region. Fans of the game can download PlayGo for free and tune into the dedicated CPL channel to watch live coverage of the 2018 tournament and past CPL games.

Upcoming Digicel Youth Cricket Series Coaching Clinics