Officials on Monday announced teams to represent England and Zimbabwe in the inaugural Double Wicket World Cup cricket tournament next month.
Andrew Flintoff and Adam Hollioake will represent England and Heath Streak and Grant Flower will turn out for Zimbabwe, said the St. Lucia Tourist Board, organisers of the tournament to be held betwen April 4-6. In the double wicket form of cricket, two players comprise a team. Other teams that will play in the tournament include Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi of Pakistan, Carl Hooper and Chris Gayle of the West Indies and Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram of New Zealand.
Officials were continuing negotiations to finalise pairs to represent India, Sri Lanka and World Cup champions Australia. Prize money totaling Eastern Caribbean $467 000 (US$175 000) is at stake in the tournament, which is being organised as part of the tourist board’s sports programme.
The winning team is to receive EC$174 000 (US$65 000) and the remaining money is to be divided up among the other teams, including the runner-ups.
The tournament is expected to be held annually for the next 10 years as part of plans to boost sports tourism here, the tourist board said. – Sapa-AP