Jam Zone Master’s Cup T20 gets WICB approval

Director of Cricket at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Tony Howard says the regional board has approved the Jam Zone Master’s Cup T20 cricket competition scheduled for August 12 and 14 at the Guyana National Stadium according to a release from the PRO of the event Sean Devers.

Devers, in an invited comment yesterday, said that Howard had written a letter informing the HJ Entertainment group that the tournament has the blessing of the WICB.

In addition, the event, which is being coordinated by Hits and Jams Entertainment, has also received the blessings of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

According to the release, Howard asked that the organisers note their obligations as set out in Section 6, under the conditions of approval.

Kerwin Bollers

The regulations for the approval of cricket in the West Indies are in accordance with the Regulations on Approved and Disapproved Cricket and Domestic Cricket Events of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which came into force on June 1, 2009.

The WICB says that among the conditions that must be satisfied are:

(a) The organiser must be eligible to participate in cricket matches/events played under the jurisdiction of the West Indies Cricket Board and, in the case of a cricketer, must not be suspended, ineligible or have participated in any form of disapproved cricket for at least 12 months.

(b) A valid No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been issued in respect of each foreign player. This will also apply to West Indies players under contract with the West Indies Cricket Board or with their relevant Territorial Board.

(c) The organiser must undertake to implement adequate safety and security arrangements, which shall be the sole responsibility of the organiser. The West Indies Cricket Board shall not be liable in any way for safety and security.

(d) The organiser must undertake to observe of applicable anti-doping and anti-corruption rules, regulations and codes; observance of which shall be the organiser’s sole responsibility and not that of the West Indies Cricket Board.

(e) The organiser is responsible for ensuring compliance by players, venue owners and match and commercial partners with all requirements, rules, regulations and conditions governing the staging of the match and this should be reflected in all contracts with relevant third parties.

Meanwhile, the four-team competition, which was launched on Tuesday, also has the support of the Government of Guyana and platinum sponsor Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GT&T) Company. The four teams are national T20 champions, Berbice Titans, Gizmos and Gadgets’ Georgetown Pitbulls, Aqua Farm New Line Cavaliers and the Hits and Jams All Stars.

Some of the Region’s top names in cricket are expected to be on show: Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Keiron Pollard, Jerome Taylor, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards, Lindl Simmons, Denish Ramdin, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Davendra Bishoo are a few.

The final will be held on August 14 from 21:00 hours.

Tickets for the first night cost $1,000 while admission for the second night is $1,500 and matches will be played at 17:00hrs and 21:00hrs respectively each day. Gates will be opened from 15:00 hours and tickets for the games are on sale at Ashmin’s in Georgetown.

Director at HJ Entertainment Kerwin Bollers also advised yesterday that patrons purchase tickets early since once the ground’s capacity is reached no more tickets will be printed or sold.