… Final to be played in Berbice
AT A simple ceremony held in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) boardroom yesterday afternoon the GCB’s Inter-county limited overs tournament, which will be played through the kind courtesy of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) El Dorado brand of rum, was launched.
According to president of the GCB, Ramsay Ali, at a special request from the sponsor, this year’s final of the four-team tournament would be played in the Ancient County of Berbice at the Albion Sports Club ground on Sunday, September 25.
In his brief remarks, Ali told those gathered including GCB vice-president Alfred Mentore and secretary Anand Sanasie, how grateful he was to the sponsor who responded to his Board’s request at late notice.
“I cannot over emphasise the importance of this competition, particularly with Guyana’s cricket, since it has in the past helped with the selection of our senior national team which goes on to contest the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional tournament.
With such a tournament scheduled to take place in a few weeks time right here in Guyana, the importance of the Inter-county tournament should not be overlooked and I wish to say thanks to DDL for their continued faith and trust in the GCB, with their partnership here with us today,” said Ali.
He continued, “Having said that, the sponsor requested of us to play the final in Berbice and without hesitation, we at the GCB consented to same, since we feel it will do well for the sport in the county.”
DDL’s El Dorado Brand Manager Maria Munroe expressed her company’s pleasure at being associated with the tournament for another year.
“DDL under our El Dorado brand is pleased to be partnering once again with the Guyana Cricket Board in hosting this year’s Inter-county tournament.
It is our pledge to continuously support the development of sports in Guyana, particularly cricket, as we recognise that this tournament is very critical since it is used to select our national team to compete in the Regional tournament,” stated Munroe.
She took the time to wish the players who will be competing in the tournament all the best and charged the public to give their support not only to the players but the games, especially the final which will be played in Berbice.
Following a successful trial period two years ago when a fourth team was added to the Inter-county tournament at the senior level, a President’s XI which is made up of players who found it difficult to break into their County team, will compete in this year’s tournament which gets under way from Friday.
Two matches will be played simultaneously each day, with defending champions Cellink Berbice commencing their defence against the President’s XI at the Blairmont Community Centre ground, while Demerara and Essequibo will meet at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.
On Sunday 18th, Cellink Berbice and Demerara will face off at the Everest Cricket Club ground and the President’s XI meet Essequibo at the Demerara Cricket Club ground while the final preliminary round match takes place next Tuesday featuring Essequibo and Cellink Berbice at DCC and Demerara and the President’s XI at GCC.
Admission to all the matches including the final is free, with Ali saying the sponsor and the GCB will decide the way forward with regard to the top prize and individual prizes, along with marketing of the final in Berbice, following the completion of Tuesday’s matches.
The GCB’s senior selection panel led by Rayon Griffith met on Monday afternoon and selected both the Demerara and President’s XI team to compete in the tournament.
Former West Indies opening batsmen Sewnarine Chattergoon and Travis Dowlin, along with Steven Jacobs and Dion Ferrier, have been included in the President’s XI, while Elton Baker, Kellon Carmichael, Trevon Griffith, Amir Khan, Robin Bacchus and Totaram Bishun are the new faces in the Demerara team.
While it has not been released to the press, both Cellink Berbice and Essequibo have named their teams to compete in the tournament.
The Demerara team reads: Shemroy Barrington, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson (captain), Gajanand Singh, Vishal Singh, Robin Bacchus, Zaheer Mohamed, Amir Khan, Joseph Perry, Paul Wintz, Kellon Carmichael, Andre Stoll, Totaram Bishun and Elton Baker.
Stand-by players are: Kevin Ogle, Jamal Hinckson, Troy Gonsalves, and Shawn De Souza.
The President’s XI reads: Sewnarine Chattergoon, Arthley Bailey, Travis Dowlin (captain), Krishna Deosarran, Steven Jacobs, Dion Ferrier, Dexter Solomon, Raj Nannan, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Keyron Fraser, Joshua Wade, Clinton Pestano, Vijay Surujpaul and Joemal La Fleur.
Stand-by players are: Kwesi Mentore, Keith Fraser, Ricardo Jadunauth and Danny Narayan.