“IT IS an honour for me to be sponsoring this tournament and at the same time joining forces with the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA). I am looking to make this tournament an annual feature and I promise to be a long-term sponsor of this competition.”

Those were the opening remarks given by Managing Director of Hadi’s Mall Incorporated, Nasir Mohamed, yesterday afternoon, when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) launched the Hadi’s Mall Inc. two-day first division competition at the Camp and Regent Street location of the Mall.
According to Mohamed, who two weeks ago continued his business partnership with the Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament, was a former player who represented Bartica and Essequibo and had the opportunity of being called to national trials during his heyday in the sport.
“I am feeling proud today, not because of the sponsorship that I will be giving to the GCA, but because of the impact I know it will have since I played the game for Bartica and Essequibo and was invited to a national trial where I played alongside Mark Harper and the late Andrew Lyght Jr.
“I must thank Roger Harper, who in his own right is a former West Indies all-rounder, for taking the initiative to lift the game in Georgetown and at large the standard of the game in Guyana and wish to say that Hadi’s Mall Incorporated will be looking to remain a family of the GCA in many more years ahead,” added Mohamed.
In his brief remarks, the GCA head said he was very delighted at Mohamed’s remarks, adding that the sponsor dived and not jumped on board, when he was presented with the proposal, as he wanted to give the players a chance to hone and further develop their skills.
“Players must be playing the game in the right spirit, with pride and passion, representing the sponsor’s brand with dignity. I am looking forward to grounds being made available and players making the tournament a highly competitive one, while I must say thanks to Mohammed for partnering with us.”
The GCA’s Competitions Committee Chairman, Shaun Massiah, gave a brief outlook of the tournament and like his president, reminded the players to be au fait with the Playing Conditions, as the GCA will be handling defaulters severely.
One such rule states that a fast bowler must bowl 25% of the allotted overs bowled by the team, while an Under-19 fast bowler is allowed to bowl a maximum of six overs per session in the tournament which carries a first place prize of $120 000, trophy and medallions to the winners, with the second-placed team receiving $80 000, trophy and medallions.
According to the GCA head, other individual prizes such as Best Batsman, Fielder, Bowler, Most Valuable Player and Most Wickets, will also be distributed at the end of the tournament.