EXECUTIVES of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), along with representatives of Ansa McAl Trading Ltd’s Carib Beer brand name who are part of the sponsorship team, announced this weekend’s commencement of the GCA’s 1st Division 2-day Heroes Cup Competition yesterday during a media briefing at the Malteenoes Sports Club Pavilion, Thomas Lands.
The Friends of Cricket is the other benefactor that will be giving support to the GCA’s venture which gets under way with three matches. Malteenoes Sports Club will take on GNIC Sports Club at the GDF ground, the Demerara Cricket Club will oppose the Transport Sports Club at the Demerara Cricket Club ground and Police Sports Club will tackle the Guyana Defence Force Sports Club at the Police Sports Club ground with matches beginning at 09:30 h each day.
According to the Darshanie Yussuf who is Ansa McAl’s Public Relations Officer and GCA president Roger Harper, the competition is the Heroes Cup by name and nature as it focuses mainly on paying homage to the great cricket heroes of yesteryear.
Yussuf also said that Ansa McAl/Carib Beer is glad to be on board to show appreciation to the cricketers of old for the impression their achievements will have made on the current generation of aspiring cricketers.
Harper thanked the Carib Beer representatives on behalf of the entire GCA for their generosity which has made the competition possible. He acknowledged Ansa McAl’s interest in the development of sports and said that they jumped at the chance of getting onboard with the venture.
The GCA president noted the importance of both the sponsors’ aid as he revealed that 2-day cricket is the bedrock for developing the sport locally. He reiterated that the main idea behind the competition is to pay homage to those who left a legacy and standard for future generations in the discipline to follow.
Shaun Massiah who is the chairman of the GCA Competitions Committee revealed that the competition will operate based on a points system which will see the eight first division teams competing to outscore one other before the conclusion of the competition which will run until November 13/14.
Massiah also noted that bonus points will be awarded for outstanding performances in batting and bowling with one point being awarded for breaking the 150-runs barrier and an additional one run for every half-century scored after that mark.
In the bowling aspect of this bonus system the first three wickets taken will be awarded with one point while every two wickets after that will earn an additional point.