After a year’s gap due to COVID-19 pandemic, domestic cricket finally resumed in May 2021 with Belize National Cricket Association (BNCA) organizing the Barry Bowen/ Harrison Parks 2020 Cricket Competition, which was postponed after the conclusion of the group stage matches.
The division one clubs Bandits and Berlan played the play-off game on May 09th, from which Bandits advanced to the best of three championship series finals against Summer Fever in the 50-overs competition. Both Bandits and Summer Fever have thus far won one game each in the best of three finals, with the decider set to be played on 29th May 2021. Leeron Muslar (Bandits), Satish Ramchandani (Berlan) and Maurice Castillo (Summer Fever) are the top scorers in the competition so far, while Marlon Nicholas (Berlan), Orlando Banner (Bandits) and Kenton Young (Summer Fever) lead the wicket-taking charts.
The competitions are being played under the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, with all safety protocols adhered to and no spectators are allowed at the grounds during the games.
Belize Cricket have also started to develop the game at the grassroots level as 6 primary schools set to compete in a one-day competition on 30th May 2021 at Burrell Boom, while a one-day U15 competition in also being planned to take place at Bermudian Landing on May 27th.
With no certainty of the next edition of Central American Championships being held in 2021, Belize men’s national squad will have only the domestic competitions to prepare for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas qualifiers, to be held later this year (originally scheduled to be hosted by Cricket Canada but now has been postponed with new dates and host to be announced shortly).
