…Significant household appliances added to incentives
PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has generously promised to ensure that the prize money for the women’s category for the upcoming ninth edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup is increased.
The three-day extravaganza is set for October 2-4 at various venues in Georgetown, culminating with the four finals – Open All Class, Masters Over-40, Legends Over-50 and Women’s Division at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, on the final day.
Delivering remarks at Thursday’s launching of the 2026 tournament at the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) ground in Georgetown, the prime minister once again stressed the importance of the women’s participation and made it clear that he intends to make a donation to the original cash prizes while not disclosing any specific amount. He also challenged the organisers, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL), to do likewise.
This year’s tournament is likely to comprise eight women’s teams as registration continues for all categories.
The prime minister, who lamented that “we should have been celebrating the 10th anniversary of the tournament,” but for the staging of the Unification Cup last year, stressed that “all is well that ends well,” and that he’s extremely happy to return as patron of this year’s tournament.
The prime minister was also very supportive of the idea of naming one of the winners trophies in honour of the original brainchild of the tournament, Regal Stationery & Computer Centre’s Managing Director, Mahendra “Anil” Hardyal, a suggestion put forward by GSCL Vice-president John Ramsingh.
Describing the tournament as a “people’s tournament, the prime minister pointed out that softball is played by all and sundry, whether young or old.
The prime minister also promised to have discussions with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport about the staging of future tournaments at the several new stadiums around the country which, he pointed out, will also lead to the participation of more teams countrywide.
He assured the organisers that he will make efforts to attend some of the preliminary-round games and the finals and is looking forward to a “good tournament.”
The afternoon’s programme was chaired by well-known and popular cricket commentator Inderjeet Persaud. Also in attendance were GSCL President Ian John, Secretary Telesha Ousman, former Guyana and West Indies opener, Faoud Bacchus and several sponsors.
Meanwhile, there has been a significant increase in the incentives announced earlier, with the organisers deciding to grant outstanding players several household appliances.
The winners in the Legends Over-50 will waltz away with the grand first prize of $800, 000 and a trophy and the runners-up $200,000 and a trophy. In addition, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the division will take home a three-piece living room suite, the player scoring the most runs – one floor-model dispenser and the bowler with the most wickets,one microwave.
The successful team in the Masters Over-40 is assured of $800,000 and the winners’ trophy, while the runners-up will receive $200,000 and the runners-up trophy. The MVP takes home a refrigerator, the player with the most runs a floor model water dispenser and the bowler with the most wickets, a microwave.
In the All Stars Open, the winners will also receive $800,000 and a trophy and the runners-up $200,000 and a trophy. The MVP gets a washing machine, the player with the most runs – a floor-model water dispenser and the bowler with the most wickets, a microwave.
Not to be outdone, the victorious women’s team collects $200, 000 and a trophy and the runners-up $80, 000 and the runners-up trophy. Both cash prizes are likely to be increased. The MVP will take home a four-burner gas stove, the player with the most runs a floor-model water dispenser and the bowler with the most wickets, a microwave. All the respective players of the finals are also guaranteed trophies. (Frederick Halley)
