Bean-Rosario Reflects on Leeward Islands T20 Blaze Title
IslandStats.com
Bermuda's Katherine Bean-Rosario has described her historic role in the Leeward Islands' first-ever Cricket West Indies (CWI) T20 Blaze title as an "unforgettable experience," as the side defied the odds to secure regional glory.
The 19-year-old all-rounder, who recently made the leap from the Under-19 ranks to the senior setup, was part of a squad that completed an undefeated campaign to lift the trophy at Arnos Vale. For the Leeward Islands, a team that had never previously reached such heights in the competition, the victory marked a tectonic shift in the Caribbean cricketing landscape.
Despite having only a week to prepare as a collective, Bean-Rosario noted that the squad utilized every second to build a championship-winning environment.
Speaking exclusively to www.islandstats.com, "Upon my arrival, I instantly felt a connection with the women as they quickly took me under their wing," Bean-Rosario reflected. "We all trained very hard from morning to evening, working on what we needed to get better at as a team and as individuals. This time was different. We all went into the T20 with confidence and high hopes".
That confidence was tested throughout the tournament. In a format where momentum can shift in a single over, the Leewards found themselves under pressure on multiple occasions—most notably in their opening win against Jamaica and the rain-affected finale against Barbados.
"A lot of the time, we would start to doubt and think that the game wasn’t going our way," she admitted. "But we continued to keep our heads up, and each game we would take the win home".
For Bean-Rosario, the victory carried personal weight. After suffering the heartbreak of losing back-to-back finals with the Leeward Islands Under 19’s in 2024 and 2025, reaching the pinnacle at the senior level felt like a just reward.
"I guess what they say is true—third time’s the charm, and it feels great," she remarked, highlighting the contrast between her previous near-misses and this year's historic breakthrough.
While her impact on the pitch was significant, the Bermudian prospect emphasized that her "leveling up" was as much about education as it was about performance. Whether in the starting XI or supporting from the sidelines, Bean-Rosario treated every moment in the senior camp as a developmental milestone.
Observation: Attended every match with the intent to "watch, listen, and learn". Resilience: Even when dealing with a slight injury, she focused on developing existing skills and supporting the team. Gratitude: Credited the Bermuda Cricket Board, including Calvin Blankendal and Lloyd Smith, for facilitating the opportunity.
Monday, February 02, 2026
Outerbridge Demands Accountability in BCB Crisis
IslandStats.com
Local cricket has been left in "no man’s land" following a week of administrative chaos, contradictory coaching announcements, and mounting concerns over player morale.
Former national captain and current Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club President Stephen Outerbridge has broken his silence on the situation, describing the latest upheaval at the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) as a "horrible situation" that has left the sport's future hanging in the balance.
The controversy ignited when BCB President Lloyd Smith announced a new four-man coaching panel to lead the senior men’s national team—only for legendary all-rounder Janeiro Tucker to vehemently deny any involvement less than 24 hours later.
Speaking on the administrative fallout, Outerbridge expressed deep frustration with the lack of transparency at the executive level.
"This is not a surprise; it's just an unfortunate situation when it comes to cricket," Outerbridge said. "At some point, when things go wrong at the Cricket Board—especially this—nobody takes the blame. It’s like, let's just continue with the business at hand, and nobody takes accountability for it".
The BCB’s coaching strategy was further dismantled when Tucker expressed anger that his business associate, Mahesh Hatkar, was also named as part of the setup without a formal contract. The disconnect has reportedly severely impacted player morale, with several senior members of the 25-man training squad now considering withdrawing from the national program.
Outerbridge, who previously served on the high-performance committee, highlighted a significant shift in the Board's philosophy that he believes has led to the current disarray.
"About a year ago, when we started to put things in place, the team looked like they were building for success or to be competitive," Outerbridge reflected. "Then all of a sudden, you come and say everything’s got to go to one person. That one person, I hope, has to take accountability for all of this".
The timing of the crisis could not be worse for Bermuda. The national team is scheduled to compete in the North American Cup in the Cayman Islands this April, followed by the high-stakes ICC T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier on home soil in June.
Despite the mounting pressure, the BCB executive has remained largely silent. Reports indicate that both President Lloyd Smith and CEO Calvin Blankendal have failed to respond to repeated inquiries regarding the coaching panel's status and the lack of player morale.
"You're not going to get them to comment on it because it makes them look weak," Outerbridge added. "But at the end of the day, people just want somebody to be accountable, and it's just not going to happen".
Historically, the BCB is a representation of its member clubs, who hold the power to call a Special General Meeting (SGM) or a vote of no confidence. With the international calendar looming and the national program in a state of flux, the fraternity is now waiting to see if the clubs will finally demand answers for the future of the game.
www.islandsats.com has once again reached out to the President of the Cricket Board and at the time of this posting we have not heard back from the President.
Sunday, February 01, 2026
LA28 Organizers Consider New York Move for Cricket
IslandStats.com
The organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are weighing up a bold move to stage cricket matches in New York, thousands of miles away from the host city, in a bid to maximize global television ratings. The potential decision is primarily driven by the significant time difference between California and the Indian subcontinent, which officials fear could alienate the sport's largest fan base.
Casey Wasserman, chairperson of LA28, confirmed that while the team is "still working through the specifics," the goal is to find the best possible platform for cricket’s Olympic return.
"If we can find a place for cricket in Los Angeles, in the region, we will," Wasserman stated. "If not, it's incumbent upon us to find the best place to produce the best cricket".
The 12-hour and 30-minute gap between Los Angeles and India presents a major scheduling headache. A primetime 8:00 PM start in California would air at 8:30 AM in India, missing the lucrative evening viewership window.
In contrast, New York sits only nine hours and 30 minutes behind India. Staging matches on the East Coast would allow for morning starts in the U.S. that align perfectly with primetime evening slots in the Asian subcontinent—a strategy successfully employed during the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
While most LA28 venues have been confirmed, cricket remains an outlier due to a lack of existing permanent infrastructure in Southern California. Major League Cricket (MLC) currently utilizes venues in Dallas and North Carolina, but neither offers the broadcast advantages of the East Coast.
New York’s pedigree as a host was proven during the 2024 World Cup at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, a modular facility that was dismantled after the tournament. There is also speculation regarding a permanent stadium in Marine Park, Brooklyn, though its completion date remains uncertain.
When the first ball is bowled in 2028, it will mark cricket’s first Olympic appearance in over 128 years. The sport last featured in the 1900 Paris Games, where Great Britain defeated France in a one-off match.
Cricket joins an expanded roster for the Los Angeles Games that includes baseball, softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash, as the IOC seeks to diversify its appeal to younger and more international audiences.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
BCB in "no man's land" Leadership Silence Fuels Frustration
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) has been plunged into a fresh administrative crisis, leaving the local cricket fraternity to ask: why have the clubs not yet demanded an emergency meeting to address the mounting chaos? Following a week of contradictory announcements, public denials from national legends, and a wall of silence from the executive, the sport currently stands in what has been described as "no man’s land".
The controversy ignited last Wednesday when BCB President Lloyd Smith announced a new four-man coaching panel—rather than a traditional head coach—to lead the senior men’s national team. The panel was said to include legendary all-rounder and former national captain Janeiro Tucker and his business associate Mahesh Hatkar.
However, the Board's strategy was dismantled less than 24 hours later when Tucker vehemently denied any involvement.
"There is no truth to the statement that we are part of that four-man national coaching panel," Tucker told IslandStats.com. "I have to clear my name because I am not a part of this and I have not agreed to become coach of the national training squad".
Tucker, who operates the 186 High Performance Cricket Academy, expressed anger that the BCB would claim his associate, Hatkar, was part of their setup without a formal contract or any affiliation between the academy and the Board.
Compounding the frustration is the apparent breakdown in communication between the Board and the media. Reports indicate that President Lloyd Smith and CEO Calvin Blankendal have failed to respond to emails and phone calls from IslandStats.com seeking clarification on the coaching disconnect, player morale, and the lack of signed contracts.
This silence comes at a critical juncture for the national program: April 4–12: The North American Cup in the Cayman Islands is just weeks away. June 19–28: Bermuda is set to host the ICC T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier. Player Morale: Reports suggest several senior players are considering pulling out of the 25-man training squad due to the ongoing instability.
Historically, the BCB is a representation of its member clubs, who hold the power to call a Special General Meeting (SGM) or a vote of no confidence if they are dissatisfied with the Board's performance. Yet, despite the technical director moving roles, a "disarrayed" coaching panel, and serious budgetary concerns, the club representatives have remained largely quiet.
With the international calendar looming and the BCB’s "Plan B" unknown, the question remains: how long will the clubs wait before demanding answers for their players and the future of the game?
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Bean Rosario's Leeward Islands Suffer Third Straight Defeat
IslandStats.com
Leeward Islands 146 Jamaica 149/2
The Leeward Islands' difficult run in the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup continued on Saturday as they fell to a clinical eight-wicket defeat against Jamaica at the Sion Hill Playing Field in Saint Vincent. The result marks a third consecutive loss for the winless Leeward Islands, who remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament standings.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Leeward Islands struggled to build significant partnerships and were eventually bowled out for 146 in the 38th over. Reniece Boyce provided the most resistance with a top score of 37, but the innings was dismantled by a superb spell from Chedean Nation, who claimed impressive figures of four wickets for 23 runs.
The Jamaican response was emphatic, as they reached the target of 149 for the loss of just two wickets with more than five overs to spare. Lena Scott led the charge for the victors, anchoring the chase with a well-played 47. Despite the defeat, Davronique Maynard stood out for the Leeward Islands' bowling attack, finishing with two wickets for 37 runs from her eight overs.
Bermudian all-rounder Katherine Bean-Rosario was a notable absentee once again, missing out on the starting XI for the third match in a row. The Leeward Islands will now look to regroup as the tournament enters its final stages, while Jamaica’s victory keeps them in contention with the top half of the table.
Leeward Islands Inning
..00 (02) Qiana Joseph c Chedean Nation b Celina Whyte ..07 (10) Kayzg Boyles Run Out ..37 (63) Reniece Boyce c Neisha-Ann Waisome b Chedean Nation ..27 (37) Amanda Edwards c Scott b Chedean Nation ..29 (41) Jahzara Claxton b Stafanie Taylor ..17 (28) Shawnisha Hector c Wilmont b b Chedean Nation ..08 (15) Tonya Martin Not Out ..01 (09) Chey-Anne Moses Run Out ..00 (04) Rozel Liburd b Chedean Nation ..03 (07) Davronique Maynard c Deers b Stafanie Taylor ..04 (10) Aaliyah Weekes LBW Celina Whyte ..13 Extras (1b-1lb-11w) 146 Total All Out after 37.4 overs
..39 (80) Chrishana McKenzie b Davronique Maynard ..47 (80) Lena Scott c & b Davronique Maynard ..26 (37) Rashada Williams Not Out ..19 (12) Stefanie Taylor Not Out ..18 Extras (3lb-14w-1nb) 149 Total for 2 wickets after 34.4 overs
