…over $3M up for grabs

ON Wednesday at the MYO ground on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, Prime Minister (Ret’d) Brigadier Mark Anthony Phillips officially launched the eighth edition of the Prime Minister T20 Cup Softball League.
Organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL) in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, this tournament, the brainchild of Mahendra ‘Anil’ Hardyal, proprietor of Regal Stationery Computer Centre, has been supported by 31 sponsors with over three million ($3,000,000) Guyana dollars up for grabs.

Unlike last when the final ended in the wee hours of the next day, all of the games this year will be played in daylight with the finals set for the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.
Guyana’s premier softball tournament is scheduled from October 11-13 with four categories being contested
The overseas teams (two from New York two from Canada) asked that the tournament be played just after Cricket Carnival (which includes the CPL matches in Guyana) is concluded, since they wanted to be in Guyana during that period.
The categories are: Male All Stars (players of any age), Masters (over 40), Legends (over 50) and female All Stars (players of any age)
Regal are the defending champions of the Masters and Legends, while Ariel Knight Riders won in the last Male All Stars and 4R Lioness successfully defended their title in Female All Stars
segment.

The inaugural competition was held in 2017 with two categories (Open & Masters) while a female division was introduced in 2022 with four teams participating.
Registration forms will be available at Regal Stationery and Computer Centre at 64, Seaforth Street in Campbellville
“I will check our budget to see if we can possibly increase the prize money for the Female Runners’ up,” promised the Prime Minister Mark Phillips who has been the patron for five of the eight
years.

“This is truly the peoples sport and I am sure everyone here played softball cricket, so I am very pleased to [be] a part of the Prime Minister’s Cup.
“I came here prepared to bowl off the first ball and I intend to attend most of the matches. I believe playing the matches in the day will attract a bigger crowd, since people will bring their families.
“I will be a part of those in the crowd along with my family, friends and the Cabinet,” concluded the Prime Minister who
encouraged more teams to register.

“I am sure that with [the] increase in prize money we could see more female teams wanting to be a part of this year’s Prime Minister T20 Cup,” said the left-handed Prime Minister who is a big cricket
fan.

Regal has won every Legend category in the history of this exciting tournament.
The tournament has so far attracted 30 teams in the various categories, while there are prizes for player of the series in three of the four divisions with a scooter up for grabs. The player of the series in the female division will take home an electric air fryer
The winners of the Masters category will receive $600, 000 and a trophy, while the runner-up will get $50,000 and a trophy.
The over-40s winner will take home $600,000 and a trophy, with the runners-up getting $50,000 and a trophy.

The winner of the All-stars will collect $600,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up will be presented with $50,000 and a trophy. The female 12/12 winner will get 200,000 and a trophy
while the runner-up will receive $25,000 and a trophy.

President of the (GSCL) Ian John disclosed that this year the females will commence their tournament and the same time since last year the tournament had clashed with the Heritage Cup,
which robbed the PM Cup of many quality female players.

The female teams will be provided balls from Ramesh Sunich, owner of the Trophy Stall. The Male teams will have to get their own balls,” explained John.
Tournament Director John Ramsingh said the PM’s T20 Softball Cup has grown and is now an international tournament since 2017 when the prize money was $200,000.
Ramsingh provided an overview of the previous tournaments and disclosed that FL sports will provide full commentary for the final and can be followed on the GSCL’s Facebook page, FL
Facebook page, FL You Tube Channel and www.flsport.gy. Matches are fixed for DCC, MYO, the Police Sports Club, Queen’s College, Transport SC, YMCA, Lusignan SC, Enmore CC and
Enterprise CC grounds.

According to Dr Jitendra Singh, speaking on behalf of the Rajeev Ghandi University of Science and Technology, said Softball cricket is the people’s game and Guyana’s gift to the world and was high in
praise for the contribution of the tournament organisers. Dr Singh suggested that a schoolchildren’s division be added.