A brief history

International Police Cricket Tournament 1998
Barbados, West Indies

Previous Tournament

The inaugural International Police Cricket Tournament was held in 
Worcester, England during the month of Augsut, 1996.

The Tournament was formed to encourage individual Police Forces from 
across the world to participate in an event which would allow for 
bonding and unity in a spirit of goodwill regardless of class, colour 
or creed.

Eight Police Forces from seven countries participated in that first 
Tournament. These were:
Worcester Police - England
South Africa Police
Bermuda Police
Royal St Vincent and Grenadines Police
Antigua Police
Western Australia Police
New South Wales Police
Royal Barbados Police

The legendary Sir Garfield Sobers had accompanied the Royal Barbados 
Police Force team as their patron.

The two week tournament was a great success and the standard of cricket 
was very high. The South Africa Police team won the competition with 
the Barbados Police Team being the losing finalist. Sergeant Leslie 
Reifer of the Barbados Police scored the most runs during the 
Tournament. Other notable performances from Barbados were Constable 
David Forde in bowling and Sergeant Geoffrey Mapp in batting.

The 1998 Tournament

At the conclusion of the Tournament a meeting with representatives of 
the participating teams was held and a committee elected. Inspector 
Lybron Sobers of Barbados Police was elected to serve as secretary to 
the committee. A decision was taken to have the Tournament as a 
biennial affair. The various Police Forces were then invited to submit 
bids to host the next Tournament and Barbados Police Force was 
successful over South Africa and Australia.

On returning to Barbados the Commissioner of Police, Mr Grantley Watson 
and the Attorney General, the Hon. Mr. David Simmons were approached 
for formal approval which was granted.

The members of the Royal Barbados Police Force then approached the 
Barbados Tourism Authority as it was generally felt that hosting the 
Tournament in Barbados impacted positively on three major components of 
the industry:-
1. The capacity to assis in promoting Sports Tourism
2. To effect visitor arrivals from some twenty three countries
3. To generate foreign exchange.

An Interim Committee of Management was appointed to organise the 
Tournament. This committee consists of representatives of the Royal 
Barbados Police Force, the Barbados Tourism Authority, the Barbados 
Hotel & Tourism Association, then National Sports Council. The Barbados
Cricket Association as well as representatives from the various 
Ministers.

A decision was taken that the Tournament will be held during the period
of April 18 - 30, 1998. A number of committees were appointed to coordinate
various aspects of the Tournament.

 Contributed by Peter Griffiths pete@cricinfo.com