Inter-County 3-day tournament

By Calvin Chapman

THE Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) senior Inter-County three-day tournament has made a return after a nine-year hiatus and, yesterday at the Providence National Stadium, Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. declared the competition open before the Demerara versus Berbice match.

During his remarks, he mentioned that he was very pleased to know that the tournament was recommencing in, “A very solid, firm, crystalised and permanent way”, which signals the direction that cricket is heading in Guyana.

Minister Ramson iterated that all the cricketers in Guyana have his confidence. He highlighted the importance of the players, without whom the game will not exist and he assured that everything that the Government of Guyana (GoG) does pertaining to the development of the sport, is also to advance the interest of players as well.

The Minister also declared that, “Age is not a barrier to whether you can get an opportunity to play. Selection should be based strictly on performance”, and charged the players to be honest with themselves when assessing their performances.

He pledged that the GoG will make every facility available to the GCB so that as many games that are required are played to select the best team.

The GoG has made a serious investment at the National Stadium which allows play despite how inclement the weather may be. Ramson Jr. announced that Anna Regina, Mackenzie and Albion will have similar facilities with ICC standard international flood lights being installed. Palmyra and Uitvlugt are also set to have state-of-the-art weather-proof facilities, so there will be no excuse for cricket to not be played all year round.

According to the Minister, the GoG is making the investment for success in the future but it will not be possible without hard work and discipline being vital components.