– set to bowl-off tomorrow at LBI
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), in partnership with BetCAGESports, launched the inaugural National T20 League yesterday at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston.
GCB President Bissoondyal Singh, during a brief feature address, stated that the event aligns with the developmental goals of the federation, which is to improve every facet and format of the sport.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. stated that this league will be a feature of the local sports calendar, noting that the Government of Guyana is focused and invested in the development of sports and that cricket is part of our cultural fabric. He noted that the quality of cricket in Guyana and the West Indies has diminished given the lofty standards of the past and that this tournament can play its role in reversing that trend.
BetCAGESports donated GY$20,000,000 towards the initiative. Speaking on behalf of the company, Dwayne Dodson stated that cricket is an avenue that binds the nation, noting that the lack of a strong local professional structure has affected the development of players.
The event, which commences tomorrow at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) ground, East Coast Demerara, will feature six franchise teams from the three counties battling across 18 preliminary fixtures. The six franchises are: Berbice Caimans, Berbice Piranhas, Demerara Hawks, Demerara Pitbulls, Essequibo Anacondas, and Essequibo Jaguars. Berbice Caimans is made up of Devon Lord (captain), Jonte Thomas, Shaquille Williams, Rivaldo Phillips, Sachin Singh, Joshua Wade, Bernard Bailey, Ronaldo Renee, Kwesi Mickel, Malcolm Hubbard, Sheldon Charles, Shamal Angel, Shamar Apple (U-19), Matthew Pottaya (U-19), and Riyad Latif (U-19).
On the other hand, Berbice Piranhas consists of Jonathan Rampersaud (Captain), Kelvin Umroa, Nigel Deodat, Aryan Persaud, Adrian Sukwa, Seon Glasgow, Ryan Ramdass, Navindra Latchman, Navindra Lalsa, Javid Karim, Suresh Dhanai, Keyon Sinclair, Romeo Deonarine (U-19), Asraf Ali Budhoo (U-19), and Rashad Gafoor (U-19).
Meanwhile, Demerara Hawks comprises Junior Sinclair (captain), Jermain Scott, Thaddeus Lovell, Shemroy Barrington, Damion Vantull, Carlos LaRose, Adrian Hinds, Totaram Bishun, Daniel Ross, Inderjeet Nanan, Brandon Jaikaran, Chris Harry, Shamar Yearwood (U-19), Ezekiel Wilson (U-19), and Chanderpaul Ramraj (U-19).
Demerara Pitbulls is made up of Christopher Barnwell (captain), Raymond Perez, Floy Joseph, Gulcharran Chulai, Jonathan Foo, Clinton Pestano, Joshua Persaud, Leon Swammy, Dwayne Dick, Nkosi Beaton, Ricky Sergeant, Daniel Mootoo, Jonathan Van Lange (U-19), Anthon Lim (U-19), and Ronaldo Jeffrey (U-19).
Essequibo Anacondas consists of Anthony Adams (captain), Nial Smith, Rajendra Ramballi, Ushardeva Balgobin, Quentin Sampson, Garfield Phillips, Kevon Boodie, Richie Looknauth, Abdul Ramsammy, David Williams, Ramnarine Chatura, Keanu Harry, Shiloh Adams (U-19), Shahid Viera (U-19), and Orrin Gibson (U-19). Finally, Essequibo Jaguars consists of Ricardo Adams (Captain), Demeter Cameron, Parmesh Parsootam, Zeynul Ramsammy, Jomal Lafleur, Kandhaya Ramkaran, Kevon Stevens, Leon Andrews, Tommani Caesar, Joshua Jones, Kevon Jawahir, Rajif Ivan, Myheim Khan (U-19), Kevin Kisten (U-19), and Alvin Mohabir (U-19).
