President of the BVI Cricket Association, Charlie E. Jackson said the tough decision made by the BVI Cricket Association (BVICA) to pull out of the Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) 50 Over Tournament was 'unavoidable and unfortunate', but ultimately beneficial to the ongoing LIME Superfast T20 leagues, with the prestigious A.O. Shirley Shield at stake in the Premier Division. Photo: File/ Andre 'Shadow' Dawson

This year is the first time the winner’s trophy of the LIME Superfast T20 League has been named after such a stalwart of the game- Mr Alexander O. Shirley MBE- and a handmade one of a kind perpetual shield has been produced as a worthy memory of the man who gave so much to the development of the game in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Lions Club of Tortola

The LIME Superfast T20 last round of qualifying takes place on Sunday May 1, 2016 at Greenland when at 10:00am Under the Tree take on Virgin Gorda for a place in the May 8, 2016 Final against RTW. Then at 2:00pm Vincy C.C. take on the Royal Knights for the right to face Grenada, also on May 8, 2016 at 2.00pm. Photo: VINO/File

“Yes, there may well be a penalty handed out by the Organisers of the LICB Tournament, on which we will have to wait and see, but a culmination of last minute injury, availability of top rated players and a need to ensure we honour the late Mr A.O. Shirley, through the LIME Superfast T20 Finals, appropriately and with cricket of the highest competitive nature, the decision was the right one,” commented BVICA President, Charlie E. Jackson.

“In years gone by such a conflict, domestically, could have been worked around, but this year and with hindsight, the decision could have been taken earlier, the conflict with players away for possibly two playoff games proved insurmountable,” Mr Jackson further stated.

This year is the first time the winner’ss trophy has been named after such a stalwart of the game- the late Mr Alexander O. Shirley MBE- and a handmade one of a kind perpetual shield has been produced as a worthy memory of the man who gave so much to the development of the game.

Mr Shirley died on January 4, 2016 at Peebles Hospital in Road Town.

Following the successful participation of the Under 15 Youth Team in an earlier LICB Tournament, the Association is very keen to ensure, going forward, that senior players get a chance to showcase their talents at the Regional level and a National Programme will be established to ensure that process.

The LIME Superfast T20 last round of qualifying takes place on Sunday May 1, 2016 at Greenland when at 10:00am Under the Tree take on Virgin Gorda for a place in the May 8, 2016 Final against RTW. Then at 2:00pm Vincy C.C. take on the Royal Knights for the right to face Grenada, also on May 8, at 2.00pm.

More news and plans for Finals day will be announced in the coming days, but early bird ticket sales have already begun, with a mere $7 dollars (raising to $10 dollars on the day itself) getting fans into the ground and a chance to see all the action as well as win cash prizes, phones and be richly entertained by some of the territory’s best DJ’s and dancers.