With the scorching sun descending on the Essequibo Island of Wakenaam, the inaugural Birbal Contracting T20 final will see San Souci Jaguars taking on Good Success at the Community Center ground from 13.00 hours.
The highly-anticipated contest, has drawn much attention after being delayed for nearly four months due to heavy rainfall.
However, the buzz in the community has started to get livelier. One resident admitted that she will brave the sun just to see the best teams on the island square off.
This is only the second time a competition will be giving cash prizes as the winner is set to walk away with $50,000 and the runner-up, $35,000. The best bowler and batsman will take home $10,000 each as well as the Man-of-the-Final.
As an initiative to reward education and show both sports and academics go hand-in-hand, the sponsors will give a $25,000 cash grant to the best graduating student at Common Entrance from the winning community.
According to Good Success all-rounder, Imran Khan the team will be on the backfoot with the absence of five key players.
However, for Khan, who plays for Hawaiian Artic in the Canada first division league, it will be about temperament and execution on the day.
The former Guyana Under-15 player said the likes of Charles Benjamin, Shoaib Namaz, Devindra Hansraj, Ejaz Mohammed and Nazeer Mohammed will all turn out in a bid to secure the title.
Meanwhile, Sans Souci Jaguars’ Afridi Mohamed, believes that his side will enter as favourites with a full strength team.
The all-rounder posited that his team is comprised of a passionate group that have both experience and youth.
The side includes seamers Siddiq Mohammed, Sanjay and Chandrika Jairam, Zameer Zaman, Prem Persuad as well as Essequibo under-15 spinner, Gladwin Henry (Jr).
According to sponsor Abdel Birbal the idea of the tournament was birthed in an effort to urge the youths on the island to gainfully occupy their time while developing the cricketing skills of the talented ones.
He added that the competition will also serve to provide the near 4000 islanders with entertainment at a high level. There will also be One-Man Band and live commentary.
In the semifinals, Good Success won by seven
wickets over Sans Souci with Nazeer Mohammed taking 4-18 and Ramnarine scoring an unbeaten half century while Sans Souci Jaguars defeated Maria’s Pleasure by 31 runs in the second semi-final. Nokta Moses scored 60 with Bheesham Moses took 4-27.
Good Success squad: Nazeer Mohammed, Mahesh Ramnarine, Wazeer Khan, Dicquan Clarke, Toolsiram Ramdeen, Imran Khan Ejaz Mohammed, Vicram Ramnarine, Alex Hill, Devindra Hansraj, Charles Benjamin, Shoaib Namaz, Mohandas Surijpaul
Sans Souci Jaguars squad: Bheesham Moses, Nokta Moses, Saddiq Mohammed, Dellon Osbourne, Safraz Mohammed, Gladwin Henry sr., Gladwin Henry jr, Afridi Mohamed, Sanjay Jairam, Chandrika Jairam, Azeer Ramrattan, Ameer Mohammed, Prem Persaud, Zameer Zaman
