… action bowls off today
HAVING successfully hosted the Haier Cup second division tournament last year, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) has once again partnered with Queensway to organise the Queensway Open Cup tournament which bowls off at the Everest Cricket Club ground today. At a simple launching ceremony held at the Value Maxx Store which is located at the corner of Oronoque and Regent Streets, Managing Director of Queensway Muhammad Qualander said his company was pleased to be associated with the GCA for the second successive year.
“First of all, let me say that I am pleased with the running-off of the last competition, which was sponsored under the Haier brand. This year, we will be partnering with the GCA, using the Queensway umbrella, which allows us to showcase to the public all of our brands and products.
“And let me say, that while some company sponsors tournament to showcase their products, we at Queensway are proud to be associated with this tournament which will provide an avenue for the players to showcase their talent and ability to the public,” said Qualander.
He told his audience that included chairman of the West Indies selection committee Clyde Butts, GCA vice-president Neil Barry, Competitions Committee chairman Shaun Massiah, president Roger Harper, acting president of the Guyana Football Federation Franklin Wilson among others that cricket is not a one-man show.
“The game of cricket is not a one-man or one-party operation, but rather one where administrators of the game and the cricketers must work together in order for the game to progress and I hope that through this tournament, Guyana can proceed in the direction of the glory days of yore and to an extent, West Indies cricket.
“Cricket has been a part of our identity since Guyana became an independent nation and even before that to an extent hence we at Queensway, who have been around for many years, had no hesitation to partner with the GCA last year and following such a success story, do it again this year.”
In his brief remarks, Harper, who in his own right as a former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder, lauded the timely efforts of Queensway and Qualander for supporting the GCA once again, while he outlined one of the main visions shared by the sponsor and his association.
“THE GCA’s objective is all about developing and uplifting players, an objective that is shared by Mr Qualander of Queensway, which suggests that we are both heading in the right direction, when it comes to cricket in Georgetown.
“A look at last year’s GCA/HAIER Cup second division tournament would see a total of eight centuries and 17 five-wicket hauls being recorded while a number of players found their way into their club’s first division lineup and this in itself speaks volumes towards the further development of cricket with clubs affiliated to the GCA,” stated Harper.
He added, “Teams played that competition with pride, passion, purpose and in the true spirit of the game and we at the GCA would be keeping a close eye on the games in this tournament which can be likened to the Bristol Cup which was held years ago, in keeping with our mandate to the sponsor.
Added to that, we would like to use this tournament to unearth fast bowlers for the future and with that in mind, Mr Qualander will be handing out a special package to the best fast bowler of the tournament, when same is over.
According to Qualander, the special prize includes a television set, carpet, cricket gear and a substantial monetary award, while Harper stated there will be man-of-the-match awards at the end of every preliminary round match, semifinals and finals.
Many lucrative prizes, such as carpets, television sets, microwave ovens, DVD players and gas stove just to mention a few, will be distributed to the respective individual performers of the tournament, such as the best batsman, best bowler, best fielder and even the man-of-the-match in the preliminary rounds and final four.
Four second division teams will battle for supremacy amongst their first division counterparts in the tournament which will also see teams utilise the services of guest players who are not members of their club and already, names such as T20 batsmen Jonathan Foo and Berbice’s winning T20 captain Royston Crandon are listed to participate.
In today’s action, Everest Cricket Club will host Georgetown Cricket Club at Camp Road with the umpires being Eddie Nicholls and Hortence Isaacs, while on Saturday, MYO Vikings and Police will face each other at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, under the watchful eyes of Shannon Crawford and Montgomery Chester.
Two more matches will be played on Saturday, with Third Class and Malteenoes Sports Club meeting at DCC, with Ernest Hinds and Anthony Ramsahoi officiating, while at the University of Guyana ground, the home team and Transport Sports Club will meet with Joseph Jeffrey and Delvin Austin in charge..
The action will continue on Sunday with the winner of the ECC/GCC fixture facing the winner of UG/TSC matchup at UG, DCC taking on the winner of MYO Vikings and Police at DCC and Ace Warriors opposing the winner of the MSC/Third Class encounter at Police. The umpires who officiated in the matches the previous day will do so at Sunday’s fixtures.