Guernsey make a bid to host Europe Finals

The Sarnians were one of six nations – along with Denmark, Germany, Italy, Jersey and Norway – to gain promotion from the three-group Europe Qualifier held in the Netherlands last week and would now like to entertain the other five teams in the subsequent tournament which is part of the four-step qualification pathway to the ICC World T20 2020 event in Australia.

‘We’ve got a stated wish to host it, potentially in the same August bank holiday window next year,’ said Guernsey Cricket Board chief executive Mark Latter on his return from the Netherlands yesterday.

‘If one of the countries involved is going to host it, only either us or Jersey have the facilities to do it, but we will have to wait and see.

‘It would be great to give our supporters the chance to watch us on home soil,’ added Latter, who was also pleased to report that he had received excellent feedback from neutral spectators about the spirit, unity and conduct of the Guernsey team last week.

With just six teams involved, the Europe Finals would require the use of just two grass pitches.

The winners of that event would then progress to the Global Qualifier, likely to take place in October or November next year, possibly in the UAE.

Guernsey T20 captain Josh Butler said it was good to restore a feel-good factor in Guernsey cricket again thanks to their exploits in the Netherlands, where they won four of five matches.

‘It was nice just to gain promotion,’ Butler said.

‘After the disappointment of [the World Cricket League Division Five tournament in] South Africa, after the disappointment of the Inter-Insular, we were back in the pavilion after this saying it was nice to feel proud again.

‘We went there to gain promotion – it would have been nice to win five out of five – but getting through to the next round was what we wanted, we did that and everyone was pretty happy.’

• More in Thursday's Guernsey Press.