The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) will look to leave behind a curtailed 2020 season with the hope of beginning a positive 2021 as soon as possible.
This is according to the association’s Competitions Chairman, Shaun Massiah.
Massiah made the disclosures during an exclusive interview with this publication recently.
He referenced the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the five-month elections fiasco on the sport which resulted in only the first two months of the year having matches.
“For the year 2020 as you know, all the GCA competitions had to be suspended because of the Covid 19 pandemic of which we only had a few matches in the month of January and half way February when we paused for our Mashramani celebrations.
“Then the National Elections, then came the pandemic until now, at the end of the year for the Christmas season,” he stated.
In the few competitions held, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) lead their respective `A’ and `B’ groups for the New Building Society’s second-division 40-over tournament. GCC has amassed 79 points from four games with three matches remaining. They are trailed by Malteenoes Sports Club (69 points) and Muslim Youth Organisation (67 points).
In Group `B’ DCC has one match remaining and are on 104 points. Transport Sports Club is their nearest rival with 66 points and three games remaining while Everest Cricket Club is on 65 points.
Over in the Noble House Seafoods second-division, two-day tournament, GCC and DCC are also topping the tables in their zones. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) are on their heels with 72 and 69 points respectively. Transport Sports Club trails DCC by a mere two points.
In the premier GISE/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall first-division two-day tournament, GCC and DCC are in the same group, placing one and two respectively. In Zone `B’, Everest leads the way with Malteenoes trailing.
Looking ahead, Massiah indicated that the GCA will seek approval from the National Covid-19 Task Force with the aim of restarting on January 16. He noted that the date remains tentative since weather is also a factor.
The chairman added that upon resumption, they will look to complete the first-division tournament which has a few more preliminary matches before the semi-final and final. Both second-division tournaments are also expected to be completed swiftly.
Massiah highlighted that in addition to the Annual General Meeting which is set for the last week in January, the Competitions Committee is working with potential sponsors to tie up a number of competitions for the 2021/2022 season.
Among the proposed tournaments are first-division two-day, 50-over and T20 formats, second-division two-day, 50-over and T20s as well as an Open T20 for all clubs, Under-23, Under-19, Under-17, Under-15 and Under-13.
The under-17 tournament is expected to include the USA-based, Tri-State team as well as an Under-23 side while it will be proposed to have a third-division two innings 100-over tournament.
