The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)’s U19 limited overs competition gets underway today and the GCB has earmarked some four matches to take place at the Providence National Stadium.
Those matches will be played over the next two weekends and will be live streamed with commentary.
The competition, which was launched yesterday at the GCB’s boardroom, is being sponsored by General Marine, Tropical Spring, Trophy Stall, 4R and E-Networks.
Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart, pointed out that the tournament will be played in a round-robin format among the three teams and the winner will be determined based on a points system. In the event of a tie, net run rate will determine the winner.
Today’s encounter will see the Matthew Nandu-led Falcons taking on Zeynul Ramsammy’s Eagles from 10.00 hours while tomorrow, Eagles will return to take on Marvan Prashad’s Amazon Hawks.
The following Saturday Amazon Hawks will play Falcons while the next day the Select XI will face a President’s XI.
No media was invited to the launch but a release from the GCB stated that President, Bissondyal Singh, outlined the purpose of the tournament.According to Singh, due to the fact that there were no regional under-19 tournaments in 2020 and 2021, the executives of the GCB were of the view that such a tournament will provide valuable feedback to the Cricket West Indies (CWI) selectors and the relevant coaching staff on players’ ability and current form.
Singh, the release continued, also stated that the players will also be able to showcase their talents to a wider audience within Guyana, the West Indies region and beyond and that the franchise tournament will create a competitive trial match environment in a teamwork context, as against a heavy focus on individual player performance.
The trial environment in a tournament setting will provide the national selectors with a good indication of the form of the players, said Singh adding that the Under-19 franchise tournament will provide players with more opportunities for national selection, since it would build on their club, association and county tournament performances.
Singh praised the sponsors who readily came onboard and thanked them for their invaluable contribution adding that he wished that their businesses would continue to excel.
The GCB highlighted in the release that they are hopeful this tournament will help give players an opportunity to be selected in the Cricket West Indies U-19 preparatory activities for the 2022 Under-19 World Cup.
Currently, Nandu, Mavendra Dindyal, Isai Thorne and Rampertab Ramnauth are the Guyanese in the West Indies U19 preparatory squad for the Youth World Cup.
Persons interested in watching the matches can do so via the link: https://youtu.be/W1d9no_WTqg
Squads:
Eagles: Zeynul Ramsammy (Captain), Ricardo Ramdehol, Mavendra Dindyal (vice-captain), Orin Gibson, Isai Thorne, Romal Hubbard, Chadrapaul Ramraj, Aryan Persaud, Daniel Mootoo, Chaitram Balgobin, Nicko Vincent, Anthony Khan, Alvin Mohabir, Kumar Bishundial (Manager), Orin Bailey (Coach)
Amazon Hawks: Marvan Prashad (Captain), Zachary Jodah (vice-captain), Rampertab Ramnauth, Ushardeva Balgobin, Shamar Yearwood, Trevon Charles, Thaddeus Lovell, Gourav Ramesh, Leon Cecil, Collis Noble, Niran Bissu, Anthony Williams, Jagdesh Dowlatram, Shaun Massiah (Manager), Winston Smith (Coach)
Falcons: Matthew Nandu (captain), Andre Seepersaud (Vice-captain), Sheldon Charles, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Tomani Ceasar, Jason Holder, Abdul Ramsammy, Jeremy Sandia, Brandon Jaikaran, Wazim Mohamed, Pavindra Ganesh, Rudranauth Kissoon, Ajay Gainda, Yeuraj Khemraj (Manager), Julian Moore (Coach)
