The two oldest former Cup Match players will have teams named after them when the new Over-45 Twenty20 League is launched this summer.

Hoyt Zuill, the man behind the league, confirmed yesterday that Woodgate Simmons, who was the oldest former Cup Match player before he died last month at the age of 96, and Leroy “Tubby” Richardson, 94, will have teams named after them.

The other four teams in the league will also be named after former players Lloyd James, Calvin “Bummy” Symonds, Randy Butler and the late Warrington “Soup” Zuill, a Cup Match historian and Hoyt’s father.

The league will be called the Warrington “Soup” Zuill Masters T20 Cricket League.

Zuill said he delayed naming the teams because he wanted to obtain clearance from the players or the families.

All have agreed to be linked with the league, said Zuill who has already received some interest from players wanting to participate.

“I spoke to Mr Richardson first and he said ‘Zuill, I feel honoured to be thought of like that; you can use my name, not a problem’,” Zuill said.

“Lloyd James and “Bummy” Symonds’s response was the same.

“I also spoke to Mr Simmons’s son [Wendell] and he said it would be nice for his dad to be honoured that way.”

The teams will be called Tubby’s Legends, Woodgate’s Keepers, Lloyd’s Drivers, Bummy’s Skippers, Butler’s Spinners and Soup’s Sportsmen.

“I have been approached by players who have an interest and I’m letting them all know I will be putting the first 90 players’ names in the draft to be placed in one of the six teams,” Zuill said.

“The Masters thought they could play as a team but, no, all the names will go into a hat and it will be a draft.

“Quite a few people I’ve spoken to have said that is the way to do it, to make it competitive. People are saying we need something like that.”

The intention is to play the 20-over games on Friday nights and Saturdays, but not clashing with matches in the Bermuda Cricket Board league.

“Francis Richardson was the first one to show interest,” Zuill said. “Wendell White was another one.”

For more details contact Zuill via e-mail at somari@blessed.bm or on 504-4698.