by PHILIP HACKETT CRICKET WEST INDIES (CWI) has found a new major sponsor and partner.
The global partnership between CWI and Colonial Group International Ltd. (CGI) was announced Monday night at an impressive function held at the Sandals Barbados resort.
The sponsorship takes effect when the ODI series between England and the West Indies starts today at Kensington Oval.
It will be known as the Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series.
Marlon Graham, vice-president of property and casualty, told MIDWEEK SPORT that Colonial would be playing a major role in the development of cricket in the region.
“We already know what the West Indies senior team can do, but the real plan starts with the kids. So we will have a big part to play in grassroots cricket,” Graham said.
Start with kids
CGI is a Bermudabased holding company for the Colonial Croup of Companies, which has commercial operations in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and Barbados.
The group comprises independently incorporated companies in these jurisdictions offering property and casualty insurance, employee benefits for pensions and health, life assurance and personal investment products and has received an “A Excellent” rating from A.M. Best.
“We are trying to find a footprint here in the Caribbean and, as a result of that, being involved with the West Indies team will help us to build our brands throughout the southern Caribbean.
In the northern Caribbean, Colonial is a household name.
Not so much here and we thought that this sponsorship would help us build our brand right through the Caribbean,” Graham said.
Graham, a former Barbados player in the limited-overs game and former West Indies Under-19 player, was excited about the timing of the announcement, given the recent success of the West Indies team. He expressed confidence that the regional side would do well in the series against England.
Icing on cake
“We couldn’t have planned it any better.
Jason [Holder] and the guys actually winning was icing on the cake. Obviously, it [the sponsorship] was a couple of months in happening and it just happened that we announced it at this time, but . . . we have been back and forth with Cricket West Indies for a couple months prior and we couldn’t be happier at the timing,” Graham said.
“We, obviously, have a very, very good team.
They showed what they could do in the Test series and I think they would do pretty much the same in the ODI series. That said, England is a pretty decent one-day side, a very good one-day set-up and again . . .
probably the favourites for the World Cup.
If we do well, I predict a 3-2 series win to the West Indies,” said Graham.
The partnership with Colonial also extends to regional limited-overs cricket. Colonial also will be title sponsor of the CWI Super 50 tournament.
Big part of plans
“The Super50 will be a big part of our plans as well, but what we really want to do, being one of the largest health providers in the entire Caribbean, is to promote people’s activity levels.
We can do that with the aid of cricket,” Graham said.
The former successful Carlton captain said it was satisfying for him to again be involved in cricket. He noted that the opportunity to see things through a different lens provided an interesting perspective. He said it was good to be involved with some of the people he played with and against, adding he has now been able to have the perspective of fan, player and sponsor.
Graham acknowledged that the retirement after the World Cup of his friend and former opening partner Chris Gayle would create a void.
“Even if you found someone to replace the runs that he would score, you could not replace that personality. He would be greatly, greatly missed,” Graham said.
MEMBERS of the West Indies squad with representatives of Colonial Group International Ltd. at the launch of the Colonial Medical
Insurance ODI Series. (Picture courtesy CWI Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks LaTouche Photography.)
