Global Super League T20
– Australia, Bangladesh, England, Pakistan to be represented
With many questions remaining unanswered, including who is footing the bill for this event, the inaugural Global Super League T20 competition, which will run from November 26th-December 7th, at the National Stadium in Providence, has confirmed the participating teams for season one.
The competing sides, which will feature in an initial group stage format comprising 11 matches, are Amazon Warriors (Guyana), Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan), Victoria (Australia), Hampshire Hawks (England), and Rangpur Riders (Bangladesh). Each edition of the event, which is sanctioned by Cricket West Indies (CWI), will feature different teams, excluding the local Amazon Warriors franchise.
The Amazon Warriors, who are not the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) winner, a label that belongs to the St. Lucia Kings, will open the event against Lahore Qalandars. At the end of the group segment, the top two teams will advance to the final of the championship, which features a prize pool of US$1,000,000.
However, a shroud of secrecy currently envelopes the tournament, which was announced at the final of the CPL on October 6th by legendary Guyanese and West Indies cricketer Sir Clive Lloyd, though no significant details were mentioned. Lloyd is the chairman of the GSL.
Among the major questions that persist are who is footing the bill for the competition, which entity will be given the ticket rights, and what will be the cost for patrons? Moreover, what is the benefit of the event for CWI and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)?
Additionally, are teams going to be given an appearance fee, and will other CPL franchises feature in future editions? Lastly, has a television rights deal been finalised, and if so, who benefits?
President Irfaan Ali stated during the announcement of the inaugural event that it has the full support of his administration. However, he did not disclose or confirm what the government’s role and contribution would be in the competition.
In a similar vein, Peter Miller of the GSL, during a previous comment, told this publication that the sponsor of the prize money will be announced in due course.
Efforts to acquire additional comment from Miller on the status of the event proved futile. A message via the digital messaging platform WhatsApp, though confirmed as delivered, went unanswered up to press time.
Similarly, efforts to acquire a comment from GCB President Bissoondyal Singh on the event proved futile. A message via the digital messaging platform WhatsApp, though confirmed as delivered, also went unreturned up to press time.
Complete Fixtures
Tuesday, November 26th
7:00pm: Amazon Warriors vs. Lahore Qalandars
Wednesday, November 27th
7:00hpm: Hampshire vs. Rangpur Riders
Friday, November 29th
7:00pm: Amazon Warriors vs. Victoria
Saturday, November 30th
10:00am: Hampshire Hawks vs. Lahore Qalandars
Sunday, December 1st
10:00am: Rangpur Riders vs. Victoria
7:00pm: Amazon Warriors vs. Hampshire Hawks
Tuesday, December 3rd
7:00pm: Victoria vs. Lahore Qalandars
Wednesday, December 4th
7:00pm: Amazon Warriors vs. Rangpur Riders
Thursday, December 5th
7:00pm: Lahore Qalandars vs. Rangpur Riders
Friday, December 6th
7:00pm: Hampshire Hawks vs. Victoria
Saturday, December 7th
7:00pm: Final
