WITH strict quarantine restrictions currently in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cricket West Indies (CWI) was forced to reduce the number of teams for this year’s Regional Super50 tournament.

The 47th edition of the tournament will revert to only the six regional franchises taking part, which would mean that defending champions, the West Indies Emerging Players, along with Canada, USA and the Combined Colleges and Campuses would miss out. This will mean the six leading franchises–Jamaica Scorpions, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Guyana Jaguars, Barbados Pride, Leeward Island Hurricanes, and the Windward Island Volcanoes—are the only teams participating this year.

The reduction in the teams competing in the tournament also means a change to the tournament’s scheduling.

Last season, the teams were split into two groups; the fixture reduction now means that the tournament will be played over one round with each team playing five matches.

Last year, the tournament was played at four venues in two countries– Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Oval and the Brian Lara Academy, and the Conaree Sports Club and Warner Park in St Kitts– hosting all the matches.

However, this year, the tournament will be played in Antigua and Barbuda from February 7 to February 27.

The fixtures will be announced soon by Cricket West Indies (CWI). (Rajiv Bisnauth)