Ansa McAl, through its Carib Beer brand, has teamed up with the East Coast Cricket Committee to host the first ever Carib T20 knock out tournament.
The tournament was launched at a simple ceremony yesterday at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, one of the prospective venues for the final of the tournament which gets underway Sunday.
With a total of 18 teams in the competition, five venues will be used, including the Enmore Community Centre, Lusignan Community Centre and Enterprise Community Centre grounds.
The first round will see the teams from the East Coast go head-to-head with as much as two matches per venue a day with the final booked for May 27.
According to Secretary of the Committee, Jitlall Jawharilall, it is the first of its kind on the East Coast of Demerara but certainly not the last.
The Committee secretary explained that the tournament will be played in whites until the semifinal stage when colored clothes will be provided by Carib Beer.
With six overs needed to constitute a match, the organisers inserted this condition since the weather is not favouring cricket over the month.
Meanwhile, Jawharilall stated that prizes inclusive of trophies will see the winners taking home $200,000 as the top team while runners-up will cart off with $75,000 and third place taking home $50,000.
Carib Brand Manager, Sean Abel, said he, along with the brand were happy to be a part of community development, particularly cricket and the development of the sport and youths in the East Coast and the entire country. Abel added that it was good to see the turnout amongst the youths, pointing out the strong pool of talent the district has while pledging to support the further development of the game and the youths as they progress.
Acting treasurer of the Committee, Yeuraj Khemraj added that the surprise of the tournament will be the inclusion of one guest player. This player can be from anywhere but can only be a part of one team throughout the tournament and will be included in the team he plays for first.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the East Coast competitions committee Anil Persaud indicated that the competition is geared towards the development of cricket in the country while expressing thanks to the sponsors who have time and time again showed their support for the upward movement of sports in the country.
Amongst the teams competing are Lusignan A and B, Enterprise A and B, Enmore, Ogle amongst others.
