The Providence Stadium will get its first test of competitive cricket on February 16 when 2006 Shapoorji Pallonji Twenty/20 Cricket champions Young Warriors tackle GCC in a friendly affair that has been organized to test the readiness of the Local Organising Committee’s ability to host the CWC Super Eight matches scheduled to commence on March 28.
Addressing members of the media yesterday at the Providence stadium, Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organising Committee Karan Singh stated that the LOC will stage a Twenty/20 match next Friday in order to test the readiness of the LOC and the Providence facility to host CWC 2007 Super Eight matches.
Singh said admission will be free and a number of schools have been invited to send pupils to view the match as well as assist with the `Royal flush’ which will test the sewage system at the stadium.
Gates will be opened at 11am but the match will get underway from 1.30pm.
Young Warriors had finished as the runner-up to Blairmont in the Berbice zone final of the Shapoorji Pallonji competition, but bounced back to defeat them in the national semi-final before taking on and beating GCC in the national final.
At yesterday’s brief press conference, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony reminded the media that the LOC is working with small hotels and individuals to deliver the Bed and Breakfast programme. He said to date there were 1,805 registered rooms out of the required 2,000 rooms and he is confident that the 2,000 target will be met.
He said some hotels have started to receive online bookings for rooms.
Regarding transportation, Anthony said the BMW vehicles had already been sourced and would arrive in the country by February 20. He added that busses had already been assigned to the various teams.
According to the minister, the National Cultural Centre and the Diamond Community Centre would be utilized for the Park and Ride programme, while the parking lot at Buddy’s Hotel will be used for the Park and Walk programme and tickets for this would go on sale two weeks prior to March 28.
He said in another week sign boards would be erected to indicate which direction patrons would have to go to get to the various stands, etc.
He said head of the security team, John Collymore is currently in Guyana inspecting the various aspects of the security system that would be in operation before and during the Super Eight matches. Further plans for the use of the Providence Stadium after CWC 2007 are being worked out by former Minister of Sport Anthony Xavier.
