The Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) has made changes to the preliminary stage and knockout format for this year’s Super40 Cup limited overs competition, which will commence next weekend.
Unlike previous years, the preliminary stage of the 2025 ABCA Super40 Cup will be contested utilizing a group format, and there will not be any knockout semi-finals.
Like last year, all 10 teams will participate in the 2025 40-over-a-side competition. However, unlike previous years in which the teams contested a round-robin preliminary stage, the participants have been divided into two groups comprising five teams for that opening phase of this year’s competition.
All five teams will contest a round-robin phase in their respective group during the preliminary stage.
Defending champions PIC Insurance Liberta Blackhawks will compete in Zone A alongside Pigotts Crushers, All Saints Pythons, WES Rising Sun Spartans, and the Caribbean Union Bank (CUB) Bethesda Golden Eagles.
Last year’s losing finalists, the New Winthorpes Lions, will contest Zone B along with the Bolans Blasters, the Jennings Tigers, Empire Nation, and Tertiary Institutions & Schools.
The team that finishes at the top of the standings in each zone at the end of the round-robin preliminary stage will be the group winners and will advance to the final.
According to ABCA’s First Vice-President Kenny Lewis, this year’s Super40 Cup will have a reduction of matches in the interest of time.
The 2025 ABCA’s Super40 Cup will commence with four matches in the opening round group stage on Saturday, June 14.
In Zone A, the Liberta Blackhawks will host the Pigotts Crushers at Ball Beef in Liberta, and the All Saints Pythons will clash with the Rising Sun Spartans at the Mack Pond playing field in All Saints.
In Zone B, the Bolans Blasters will meet the Jennings Tigers at the Jennings playing field, and Empire Nation will take on Tertiary Institutions & Schools at the Factory Ground.
The PIC Insurance Liberta Blackhawks completed a hat-trick of titles by retaining the ABCA’s Super40 Cup last year.
The Blackhawks soared to their third consecutive Super40 Cup championship by beating the New Winthorpes Lions by six wickets in the final at Ball Beef in Liberta.
