-Event set to bowl off on November 27

THE Fourth Prime Minister Softball T20 Cup was launched yesterday with Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips bowling off the ceremonial ‘first ball’ at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

The Georgetown Softball Cricket League three-day event, from November 27 to November 29, will have some 18 teams competing for over $1M in cash and prizes.

The event will have three divisions with six teams each battling in the Legends (Over-50) division, the Masters (Over-45) division and the All Stars (Open) division.

At the launch, the prime minister said he hopes the organisers can follow the COVID-19 protocols in place.

“We have a set of protocols that we outlined that must be in place if you’re going to host any activity…once you satisfy us… you can have your activity”.

According to the PM, having sports return to the forefront is important for the overall mental health of sportsmen and sportswomen.

“It is important that we find a means of relief in such difficult times, often we underestimate the need to take care of our mental health amid a crisis, but sport and other recreational activities provide that opportunity for us to have the necessary distraction.”

The Legends (Over-50) teams include Regal Legends, Savage Legends, President XI-New York, Floodlight Legends, Parika Defenders and Rockaway Legends.

The Masters (Over-45) includes Regal Masters, Wellman Masters, HS Masters, Fisherman Masters, Success Masters and another team to be announced.

The All Stars will have Regal All Stars, Speedboat XI, Bartica Rangers, Cosscutter All Stars, Spartan All Stars and Payless All Stars.

The winner of each division will receive $200,000 each and a trophy, while the runners up will collect $50,000 each and a trophy.

Meanwhile, the Man-of-the-Series in the Masters Over-50 division would collect a 55” 4K Smart Flat Screen TV; the Man-of-the- Series in the Masters Over-45 division would receive a 50” 4K Smart Flat Screen TV, whereas the All-Star Man-of-the-Series would collect a 40” 4K Smart Flat Screen TV.