GUYANA’S Events Operations Manager Alex Graham yesterday evening told a media briefing that was held at the Duke Street, Kingston-based Duke Lodge, preparations are on track for a successful hosting by Guyana for the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20

tournament which is set to bowl off on July 30 in Barbados.
Seated at the head table with Graham were head coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Roger Harper and Limacol CPL Commercial Director Jamie Stewart while members of the audience included Ramnaresh Sarwan, Christopher Barnwell and Trevon Griffith, three members of the Amazon Warriors.
According to Graham, Guyana’s advantage in hosting their leg is the playing of Pakistan’s opening One Day International matches against the West Indies at the Guyana National Stadium on July 14 and 16 July, something he sees as a leg up on the other venues, as it relates to preparations.
“In Guyana, we have a combination of experience and knowledge that I think will get us to the place we need to be in time. We have in Guyana, the opportunity and the challenge to be very early up in the tournament, since game two is being held here so we are looking to behave here as though the tournament starts here.
“We also have the advantage of there being two West Indies versus Pakistan games at the Stadium, before the Limacol CPL games so that gives us a leg up in terms of a lot of the preparations that are to take place in the Stadium itself,” said Graham.
In perspective, Graham said he expects Guyana to be ready, setting a standard to ensure that the venues that follow after have something to work towards and surpass as it relates to the hosting of the inaugural tournament, before he introduced the other members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Reon King heads the Cricket Operations, Simon McBean (Security Coordinator), Carmachand Rambarran (Logistic Officer), Natasha Khan (Ticketing Officer), Maliza Walton-Sinclair (Media Accreditation), Sabrina Panday (Volunteers Coordinator) and Arianna Gordon (Sponsorship) along with Graham, comprise the LOC.
In his brief response, Harper, who coached the West Indies from 2000 to 2003, said the Amazon Warriors are expected to get together from July 22, while the franchise holder sees it as important that the local players keep fit.
“The squad is due to get together from July 22. At that time, there may be a few international players who will still be on international duties with their team. ….prior to that, the franchise sees it critical that the local players are prepared, so that when that camp starts, they are in tip top shape both physically and mentally.”
Harper said one of the challenges they are facing at the moment is the weather along with a venue that is good for meaningful practice sessions to take place, adding that the acquisition of an indoor facility to execute some of their training is another option.
Stewart said the staging of the tournament from the organisers’ point of view is a huge undertaking the likes of which the Caribbean has never seen as it is an ongoing tournament in six different countries, each having its own operations and logistical challenges.
“The Governments across the region have embraced this tournament, particularly in Guyana where the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Tourism have fully embraced the tournament and I would say we can expect much more from Guyana in terms of the promotion of the tournament, setting the scene for every match to come, as it will be a Carnival atmosphere throughout the tournament.”
He said an announcement as it relates to ticket prices and structure will be announced shortly, while Graham said the access to tickets for games in the entire tournament will be broader than before, with all Digicel and COURTS stores throughout the Caribbean, acting as distributors.
As it relates to doping and Anti-Corruption in the tournament, Stewart said the LOC will be working with the West Indies Cricket Board to ensure the International Cricket Council’s Regulations are met, as it relates to spot-fixing.
According to Graham, the goal of the Limacol CPLT20 is to produce a Caribbean tournament and while the security standards will not be without limits, fans across the Caribbean will be pleased with the access on the amount of things they are allowed to walk with at the games, in order to make it a Carnival atmosphere.
The Limacol CPL T20 tournament will bowl off on July 30 in Barbados, following an opening ceremony and will see Barbados Tridents oppose St Lucia Zouks in the opening encounter, before shifting to Guyana wherein the Amazon Warriors will do battle with Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel the following day at the Guyana National Stadium.