The inaugural Big Man Cricket over-45 tournament will bowl off today across three venues with eight teams battling for supremacy.
The T/25 tournament was officially launched yesterday with Chairman of the BMC, Raj Singh, ceremoniously cutting the ribbon to open the historic event in the upper flat of the Georgetown Cricket Club, Georgetown.
According to Vice-President and Public Relations Officer of BMC, John Ramsingh, weather permitting, a double header will unfold at GCC with West Demerara Warriors taking on Jai Hind from 9am followed by a clash between Upper Corentyne Rangers and Timothy Masters from 1pm.
The two matches will be streamed live with ball-by-ball commentary.
At the Imam Bacchus Ground, Essequibo, Essequibo Eagles will face GT Royal Rangers while over at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara, Real Warriors, will lock horns with West Demerara Vipers. Both matches bowl off at 1pm.
According to the organisers, about five of the eight teams have already submitted their squads while it was revealed that former West Indies captain; Ramnaresh Sarwan is earmarked to represent one of the sides.
Ramsingh noted that in addition to the Man-of-the-Match trophies, players who achieve the feat of first century, first hat-trick, first five-wicket haul and other landmarks will receive a copy of ‘Living My Dreams,’ a book by iconic international commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira.
Meanwhile, the chairman reiterated that this tournament is in effect, serving to bring back those players who had once graced the game in their prime.
“Big Man Cricket should encourage mature players to lead healthier lifestyles, encouraged by representing the West Indies at an Over-50 World Cup. This will ultimately lead to healthier nations within our communities. The children and spouses of those participating in Big Man Cricket events will be encouraged to follow the game and will result in both being healthy and fitter,” Singh said.
He reflected that when he took the team to the Over-50 World Cup last year, a lot of the players took their families and suggested that should Guyana host a similar event, the economic impact would be encouraging.
With the tournament featuring one player from each team between the ages of 40-45, Singh argued that this serves to create a succession and harness a pool of players that are at their peak when selected to represent Guyana and the West Indies at similar events.
Ramsingh related that it was during the early part of the global lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic that ultimately curtailed the Over-50 World Cup in South Africa.
Himself and Singh were both trapped in the United States when they brainstormed the idea of this tournament and began working on setting it up.
It was through their social media that Guyanese beverage giants Banks DIH contacted them and expressed a willingness to come on board through their flagship Banks Beer and newly introduced Maximum ultra- refined premium vodka.
Public Relations Officer of the local company, Troy Peters, wished the organisers well and acknowledged that he predicts a large pool of players from across the country.
“Banks DIH is delighted to be on board and we support cricket in every area and today we stand here to support the veterans as we call them or the Over-45 because this here is what you call continuity of what happens because when you look back at a player who retires at 35 what happens after that? But this is a platform for them to continue to progress and to be fit and live a healthy lifestyle. I see a lot of softball and tapeball around but what about hardball cricket and this is a platform for such event,” he said.
The winners will pocket $400,000 while the runners-up will cart off $200,000.
The organisers said that they are looking at hosting the final at the National Stadium, Providence or GCC.
