… LBI facility among venues to stage games

THE Caribbean’s most prestigious youth tournament will be held in Guyana this year, according to secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Anand Sanasie.

The regional youth tournament dates back to 1968 when it was contested under the British American Tobacco Series. It has been the main scouting ground for the region’s finest talent who would go on to grace the international stage in full West Indies senior colours.

Most of the current Windies players found their footing in the Regional Under-19 Tournament before going on to represent the Windies in Test, One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket.

Meanwhile, Sanasie confirmed to Chronicle Sport that the rehabilitated LBI Community Centre ground will be among one of the venues to host matches.
The GCB has committed approximately a $600M investment towards the general upgrading of the facility.

A visit to the facility yesterday revealed that phase one, which includes major repairs to the overall pavilion, filling of the playfield and fencing to the entire ground, has almost been completed.

Further Sanasie indicated that lights will be installed shortly while phase three will include a new players’ pavilion along with the construction of a new double-decker stand to accommodate 5 000 spectators and a parking lot.
The third phase will be done next year, and according to the GCB secretary, the board anticipates the completion of the entire project by next yearend.

The GCB had secured the lease for the LBI Community Centre ground, early last year from Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo), which eventually paved the way for the major developments there.

The GCB had already invested close to $75M a few years ago to construct the existing hostel, the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence at that location, and over the years the Board has saved a lot of accommodation expenses through the use of this hostel to house its players.

In addition to the facilities for the accommodation of teams preparing for local and regional tournaments, the Centre comprises indoor nets, a gym and a lecture room, all designed to turn out more rounded players, who are prepared to meet the challenges of the modern game.

The multi-million dollar structure was officially opened in 2010.