CRICKET West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) on Thursday met with His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, who agreed to serve as Patron of the 2026 IMC Over-40s Cricket World Cup in Guyana.
President Ali will also serve as the Chief Guest of Honour at both the opening and closing ceremonies, a major endorsement of the tournament and of Guyana’s growing standing as a destination for international sporting events. The President will also be invited to bowl the first ball to commence the tournament in October.
The President met with a CWIMA delegation comprising Rajendra Singh, Chairman; Roy Singh, Secretary; and Ramdeo Kumar, Convenor of the World Cup Finance Committee. During the meeting, the delegation briefed the President on the scale and importance of the World Cup, the countries expected to participate, and the expanding global reach of Masters Cricket.
President Ali pledged his full support for the tournament and asked that CWIMA work closely with the relevant ministries, including Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport and Home Affairs, to ensure the event is fully coordinated and positioned for maximum national benefit.
CWIMA outlined that the 2026 IMC Over-40s Cricket World Cup will bring together up to 16 international teams and will be staged in Guyana from October 17 to November 1, 2026. Players, officials, supporters, and visitors from across the cricketing world are expected to travel to Guyana for the event.
The President was also advised that International Masters Cricket now stages two World Cups each year across the Over-40s, Over-50s, Over-60s, and Over-70s categories. What began in 2018 as a single age-group tournament with 8 teams has now expanded into 4 age groups, with as many as 16 teams in each division. Masters Cricket is now one of the fastest-growing sports movements in the world.
CWIMA emphasised that hosting the World Cup will strengthen Guyana’s sports tourism industry and further diversify the country’s tourism product. The economic impact of the tournament is expected to be significant, with direct benefits to the hotel, transportation, tour, food, and beverage sectors, and increased international visibility for Guyana.
The association also expressed its hope of bringing additional IMC World Cups to Guyana in the future, noting that the country has already demonstrated that it is a strong and attractive host for major international tournaments through its facilities, hospitality, and unique tourism appeal.
“Having the President of Guyana agree to serve as Patron of the 2026 IMC World Cup is a tremendous honour and a clear sign of confidence in what this event can deliver,” said Roy Singh, Secretary of Cricket West Indies Masters Association. “We believe this tournament will not only showcase outstanding Masters Cricket, but will also help position Guyana as a premier destination for sports tourism and future international events.”
Minister Jacobs Pledges Full Support
Meanwhile, CWIMA met with Steven Jacobs, Junior Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Jacobs, and the Government of Guyana reaffirmed its strong support for the event.
CWIMA was represented at the meeting by Rajendra Singh, Chairman; Roy Singh, Secretary; and Ramdeo Kumar, Convenor of the World Cup Finance Committee.
Minister Jacobs gave his blessings to the tournament and pledged his full support for the successful hosting of what is expected to be one of the most significant masters cricket events ever staged in the Caribbean.
As part of the government’s commitment, Minister Jacobs pledged the use of the stadia at Providence, Palmyra, Anna Regina and Linden as key venues within the tournament infrastructure.
In addition, the Minister pledged support for the refurbishment and upgrading of several cricket grounds to strengthen Guyana’s readiness to host the event. These grounds include Enmore, Malteenoes, Lusignan, and Albion, all of which are expected to play an important role in the delivery and legacy of the World Cup.
