Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Portmore Mayor George Lee says it would be a dream come true for him to see the City having a team in the national two-day Senior Cup cricket championship.

Lee, one of the 'Founding Fathers' of the Portmore Cricket Association (PCA), made the announcement at the official launch of the 2012 Portmore Twenty20 League, which took place at the headquarters of main sponsor Wray and Nephew on Thursday.

"It is my dream to see Portmore have a team in the national Senior Cup as this would provide another avenue for the growth and development of young people in the municipality," said Lee.

"It could also be the start of great things as if we were able to put in place a proper structure, who knows, over time we could become the cricket capital of Jamaica," he added.

tomorrow's matches

The league, which got going last Sunday, will continue tomorrow with a slate of eight matches across four venues - Bridgeport, Hamilton Gardens, Portsmouth and GC Foster College of Sport and Physical Education.

A total of 16 teams will participate in 64 matches, 56 in the preliminary round and eight in the play-off stages.

The competition will be held over 11 weeks and the final is set for November 25 at Bridgeport.

Each team is allowed four Senior Cup players per match, with an additional two national Under-19 players who play in the Senior Cup also an option.

"As president it is an honour to be a part of this launch, which represents another step in our quest to make the league one of the best in the country," said PCA president Courtney Francis.

"I want to give thanks to the Wray and Nephew and CHASE Fund for making it a reality and we look forward to the league providing players with avenues for expressing their talent and spectators with entertainment."

Wray and Nephew and CHASE handed over sponsorship cheques of $2.4 million, and $200,000, respectively.

Among those who were in attendance were St Catherine East Central Member of Parliament, Alando Brown, former Member of Parliament, Sharon Hay-Webster, and Jamaica Cricket Association president, Lydel Wright, and PCA second vice-president and founding member, Charles Simpson.