West Indies Local: Kensington still the one

First-Class cricket stays at Kensington Oval for the time being.

Champions Barbados will play both their two home matches in the Busta Cup at the long-standing lone local Test venue.

Second vice-president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Owen Estwick confirmed yesterday that arrangements to use an alternative ground could not be completed in time.

Windward, St. Philip, was contemplated for the opening match against Guyana January 7-10 but Estwick said recent 'diversions' involving the BCA had got in the way.

Trinidad and Tobago and the Leeward Islands will begin the competition a day ahead of the other two first round games, when they meet at the Caribbean's newest first-class venue: the Wilson Recreation Ground in Penal, January 6-9.

The schedule was released yesterday when the sponsors S.M. Jaleel and Co. Ltd., bottlers of Busta soft drink, launched the 2000 Cup with a Ppress luncheon.

Jaleel's representative, Ian Kalloo, said his company would be promoting next year's Busta Cup series in conjunction with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). They will be pushing a television campaign as an extension of their successful Cricket's My Game promotion.

He said there will be give-aways at the lunch and tea breaks of all 18 games.

In an effort to broaden the appeal of regional cricket, the WICB has decided to allow all children under 18 years and women, who accompany them, to watch cricket free.

Revealing that this year was 'fabulous' for Busta sales in Barbados, Kalloo outlined a new incentive package.

The winners of this year's competition will receive US$12 000 - an additional US$2 000 - while the runners-up will receive US$6 000.

The most valuable player will receive US$2 000 while there is a US$150 prize for the Man Of The Match in all 18 games. The bowler taking more than ten wickets in a match will get US$1 000, each batsman making a century will receive US $500, and the fielder with the most catches US$500.