– Ticket prices to be released shortly

MANAGER of the Providence Stadium,  Anthony Xavier, has confirmed that the venue is fully prepared and ready to host its leg of the three-match One Day International (ODI) series between the West Indies and Bangladesh.

The National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, will, for the first time ever, host a day/night ODI match on July 25, when the Windies and Bangladesh clash.

These two teams will also play another One Day International (day) match at Providence on July 22, which would comprise two of the three ODIs on their itinerary. The last ODI is scheduled for Warner Park in St Kitts on July 28.

“We are definitely ready to host the two games…we are putting in the finishing touches to what we do best…the main thing is the preparation of the square to accommodate both games, so later on this week and early next week we will be testing the lights and all the other various things. So, as we speak, most of the systems are in place,” the former government Minister said.

When Chronicle Sport visited the venue yesterday, the place was a hive of activity with workers putting on the finishing touches to the  various areas of the Stadium.

Equipped with the best drainage system among the International venues in the West Indies, the outfield looked lush green and billiard-table smooth, despite the prolonged rainy season.  To this end, ground staffs are confident that once there is no continuous rain on match days, the games will not be affected in any way.

Meanwhile, an official from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has confirmed that tickets will be released shortly to the general public, since additional information from Cricket West Indies (CWI) is yet to reach the board.

However, the CWI website through their third party source (KYAZOONGA BIG TICKET NEXT), indicated that online tickets cost US$15 – US$25.

Prices online revealed that the Grass Mound/Party Stand (US$10), Red Stand – North West cost (US$15), while the orange stand (south east) and green stand (south west), cost US$25 each.

Bangladesh last toured the Caribbean in August/September 2014, on an identical tour.

The hosts had swept the Tests and ODIs before the lone T20 was abandoned due to rain.

Bangladesh are currently ranked seventh by the ICC on the ODI charts, ahead of Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

International cricket was last played at Providence back in April 2017, when the Windies lost the three-match ODI series 2-1 to Pakistan.

International cricket will again be held in this country when Guyana co-hosts the Women’s T20 World Cup, to be played from November 3-24.