… final two to be  unveiled next week
A 20’x4’ INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 bat, the first of three, was yesterday unveiled at a simple ceremony  on the Rupert Craig Highway by president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony.
Prior to the unveiling of the bat which carries the slogan ‘Bring It’ written on both sides ICC T20 (Guyana) Promotions and Corporate Services Officer Sabrina Panday said that Guyana was the first country to launch the bat, with Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and St Lucia set to do so.
“With regards to the ICC 20/20 and its series of promotions, the unveiling of this bat kick-starts same, with two more bats set to be unveiled during the course of next week at Rahaman’s Park and Merriman’s  Mall.”
According to Panday, 48% of the tickets allocated to Guyana have been sold within the first phase which closes on February 28 and as a bonus to those who have bought their tickets between November 2009 and February 2010, a special souvenir ticket will be issued.
Added to such, Panday said that unlike 2007 where there were restrictions and limitations with regards to the fans taking certain items into the various venues, there will not be any restrictions, hence the meaning of the words ‘Bring It’ that is emblazoned on both sides of the bat.
“There are no restrictions with regards to what can and cannot be taken into the venues, as was the scenario with the 2007 World Cup. We have not completed the list of items that are permitted, but when such is done, the public will be notified via the media,” said Panday.
Both Dr Anthony and Singh lauded the efforts of the local organising committee stating that it marks the beginning of another prestigious tournament to these shores and called on cricket fans to get their tickets early.
Guyana is set to host the opening ceremony as well as three preliminary-round matches at the Caribbean’s fastest drying venue, the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.