THE inaugural Cricket Guy Inc. (CGI) Local Franchise League bowls off today with the first round of matches nationwide. In an effort to widen the pool of players to select from, and to provide greater opportunities for local players, eight league teams have been set up across the country, namely: Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne/New Amserdam/Canje, West Berice, East Coast Georgetown, East Bank/Upper Demerara, West Demerara, and Essequibo. All of which are assigned professional guest players.
Action between Upper Corentyne and East Coast Demerara franchises will be contested at the Enmore Community Centre ground; Georgetown versus Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam/Canje at Albion Community Centre ground; West Berbice against Essequibo at Georgetown Cricket Club ground; and West Demerara versus East Bank Demerara/Upper Demerara at Wales Community Centre ground.
According to a release from CGI, the League seeks to uphold the highest professional standards, where players are committed to team goals and other task-related player development assignments. CGI has a set goal to catapult the competitive standard of the game locally to new and unassailable heights through this league.
It also seeks to model the cricket development methodology utilised by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League, thereby widening the pool of players locally who can participate in a purposeful and meaningful career path.
Such a purposeful pathway, sees the Local Franchise League seeking to encourage talented and emerging players to utilise this professional arrangement as an effective career pathway, in which they can dedicate time to their game, be tutored under a proficient coaching education programme, be guided through a psychological development programme, be groomed under a vibrant mentorship system, and participate in a highly competitive tournament – league, which attracts favourable payment packages for all players and coaches. The League is also staffed by remunerated Scorers, Match Referees, Umpires, and an Umpire `Coach.
Meanwhile, the Local Franchise League will feature the contracted and Academy players being assigned to the eight teams, with Upper Corentyne having the support of Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble and Assad Fudadin; Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam/Canje featuring Veerasammy Permaul, Raun Johnson and Shimron Hetymer, while Keon Joseph, Kandasammy Surujnarine and Gudakesh Motie will turn out as professionals for West Berbice.
East Coast Demerara will include Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Paul Wintz, Rajendra Chandrika and Steven Sankar, while Georgetown will feature Leon Johnson, Christopher Barnwell, Raj Nanan and Kemol Savory as their professional guest players; East Bank/Upper Demerara have Robin Bacchus, Tevin Imlach, Dexter Solomon and Vishaul Singh; West Demerara will have Javon Searles, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Akshaya Persaud, Steven Jacobs and Kemo Paul, while Essequibo will feature Ronsford Beaton, Raymon Reifer, Kevon Boodie and Anthony Adams.