ARIEL Guyana Knight Riders are brimming with confidence that they can add the Unification Open All Stars Cup to their bulging collection when the dust is settled in the three-day softball extravaganza at the Georgetown Cricket (GCC) ground on Sunday.
Since entering the softball arena, with a plethora of stars, just over five years ago, they suffered their first and only defeat at the hands of Speedboat in the 2025 Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup but rebounded to crush the same opponents in the final of the second edition of the Vice-president tournament a few weeks later.
According to manager, Ariel Persaud, his “troops are eager to battle in the Open All Stars category and to gain yet another title.”
Persaud pointed out that the squad is basically the same from last year, boasting the likes of pint-sized Troy Drakes who smashed an astonishing 14 sixes in an unbeaten 91 to lead the eventual winners over Speedboat in the Vice-president tournament.
Apart from Drakes, the star-studded lineup also include the hard-hitting Quentin Sampson, who’s coming off an impressive batting performance on his debut Caribbean Premier League (CPL) appearance for the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW), Shauz Grovesnor who spanked 57 in the final and Eon Hooper among others.
Persaud acknowledged that Ariel Guyana Knight Riders have grown from strength to strength over the past five years and have expressed heartful thanks to the others involved in the “set up”.
Persaud also showered praise on the organisers, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc and title sponsors, Regal Stationery & Computer Centre for the role they have been playing in keeping the grassroot game alive and for the vision in organising the upcoming Unification tournament.
The tournament will be played in the usual three men’s categories – Open All Stars, Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50 over 20 overs, while the women will compete in 15-over affairs.
The winners of all three men’s categories will take home a whopping one million dollars, while the women’s winners will cart of $400,000.
In addition, the Most Valuable Player in the Legends category will drive away with a motor car, while those in the Open and Masters Over-40 are guaranteed motorcycles. The MVP for the women’s category will take home three-piece living room suite.
The action gets underway on Thursday with the women’s category while the men will battle from Friday. (Frederick Halley)