The Club Cricket Committee has formally declared the 2022/23 Lagos Cricket League Open with Lagos Federal Government College Warri pipping Rising Start by one run, the same margin with which Lagos Asian Cricket Cup defeated Island Titans at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval last Sunday in Lagos.
Defending Champion, Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club supposedly opening match with Federal Government College Warri was abandoned, same for Government College Ibadan duel with Ibadan Metropolitan Cricket Club due to inclement weather
The organisers said the new season was going to be the biggest and best in the annals of the event given the sponsorship commitments and support that has come in for the League.
Chairman of CCC, Akin Denton said that the Sagoe Family, Engr. Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu, PETS Foundation, CWay Waters, MACA Plus Energy Drinks are some of the brands that have signed up for the season so far, adding that six new clubs will be joining the fray.
At the opening Press conference that heralded the league,Denton, in the presence of head of global development for the International Cricket Council, William Glenwright; the Regional Manager for ICC Africa, Patricia Kambarami formally unveiled Engr. Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu as the returning main sponsor for the league.
Also present was the President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation , Uyi Akpata; Chairman of the Lagos State Cricket Association, Kofi Sagoe; Past Chairman of the CCC, Charles Omoera and the host himself, Akin Denton.
Glenwright, on a working visit to country, expressed his delight in how rapidly cricket has gained ground in Nigeria in the past few years.
Patricia also reiterated her satisfaction in how the cricket administrators have diligently propagated the game to every corner of the nation, adding her desire was to see the female version of it grow with the same intensity.
Akpata thanked the Club Cricket Committee and all stakeholders in the Lagos City for all they are doing to support his administration; and he also pointed out that the South-south region of the country has already established a female league which is thriving in its third season as well as the south east region.
Sagoe expressed his appreciation to the title sponsor for blazing the trail for all other partners and sponsors to follow; and in that vein, he presented the balls that will be used for the entire season.