National limited overs champions Melbourne Cricket Club left the island on Tuesday for Trinidad and Tobago where they will represent Jamaica in the second annual West Indies Players Association (WIPA) Twenty20 Champions League.
The Courtney Walsh-conditioned outfit, who have in their squad spinner Nikita Miller, batsman Donovan Pagon and wicketkeeper-batsman Carlton Baugh Jr, who all have West Indies experience, are in Group A along with defending champions Powergen Sports of Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica All-Stars.
They will open their fixture tomorrow against Powergen.
Celebrity match-up
"The aim is to go down their and represent Jamaica to the best of our ability and try and win the prize money, which is a lucrative one," Melbourne's manager, Donald McNaughton, told The Gleaner.
The championship, which consists of 12 teams and will last two weeks, had a novel launch last week during the half-time break of a pre-championship celebrity match-up between a WIPA All-Star XI and Powergen Sports at Guaracara Park, in Trinidad and Tobago.
WIPA president and CEO, Dinanath Ramnarine, announced that the winners would take home for the first time US$100,000 (approximately J$8,800,00).
Melbourne declined an invitation to participate last year due to financial constraints.
Invited to play
"As limited overs champions we were invited last year by WIPA to play in the championship. However, due to financial constraints we were unable to attend," McNaughton explained.
"This season being limited overs champions again, we got another invitation and thanks to WIPA, who will be assisting us with some of our expenses, and the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), which has offered us its blessings, we will be going."
Ramnarine said: "WIPA's main thrust in organising the championship is to build clubs and strengthen their relationships with communities and constituents they represent, as well as developing camaraderie and friendship that are so important for the enhancement and sustainability of West Indies cricket."
Melbourne squad: Carlton Baugh Jr (capt), Donovan Pagon, Nikita Miller, Damion Jacobs, Yannick Elliott, Andre McCarthy, Sheldon Smith, Denva Passley, Tafari Williams, Xavier Charvis, Dean Williams, Dwayne Thompson, Dave Johnson, Omar Allen; Donald McNaughton (manager), Courtney Walsh (coach).