– 4-day Inter-County to commence on February 25

By Sean Devers
THE Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) will play two of their remaining three West Indies four-day championship games at home according to well-placed sources within the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

With a victory over defending champions Barbados Pride in Antigua and a last-wicket draw against the Windwards Volcanoes in Grenada, GHE lead the points table in the 2023 Championships with 28.6 points, 5.6 points ahead of second placed Barbados.

After a break, the last three rounds of the tournament were scheduled to be played from March 15 to April 1 in Trinidad & Trinidad. At the end of the tournament the winners will be presented with the Headley/Weeks Trophy.

However, it is understood that one of the three grounds in Trinidad is unavailable and it was confirmed by a usually reliable Cricket Board source that matches have been shifted to Guyana.
“The Harpy Eagles will play two of their last three games at the Providence Stadium on the same dates that they were set for in Trinidad. The official announcement will be made soon,” informed the well-placed source.

Three games will, however, be played in Guyana, with the Jamaica Scorpions playing the Windward Islands, before the former takes on the host Harpy Eagles. The Leeward Islands Volcanoes will also play the host here. Guyana’s third match will be in Trinidad against that country’s Red Force.

The tournament, which once consisted of a ‘double round’ with 10 matches being played has not only been reduced but is now limited to only three venues due to the high cost of regional air-travel.

Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that the four-day inter-county cricket tournament is set to start next Saturday and will be used as a yard stick for the selection of the Guyana team for the last three rounds.

It is also understood that the Providence ground will be closed from March 3 to facilitate preparation of the square.

The new Headley/Weekes Series will follow the West Indies Championship and will feature three matches and three teams.

The Team Headley and Team Weekes will be selected from the best performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI.

The new West Indies Academy will provide the third team in the new series.