Twenty20 superstar Chris Gayle will definitely play in this weekend’s Jamzone T20 four team playoffs at the Providence National Stadium the organizers have announced.
According to organisers Kerwin Bollers and Rawle Ferguson of the Hits and Jams Promotions, Gayle is one of a bevy of stars billed to participate in the second Hits and Jams Entertainment Jamzone Masters Cup Twenty-20 tournament.
Among the stars expected to be on show are Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and Sulieman Benn.
Gayle, who plays for the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to play for the Hits and Jams Spartans team, even as the 32-year old, former West Indies captain, has ruled himself out of the inaugural Sri Lankan Twenty20, premier league
“Gayle is coming, we spoke to him and he is set to come as planned,” Bollers told the media.
“So we encourage patrons to get your tickets early, they are being sold at Ashmins and the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) for between $1500-$2000 (Guyana dollars). Cricket is all about seats and just like any major international game, fans need to get them quickly before its sold out,” Bollers added.
The tournament bowls off on Friday and concludes on Sunday.
The four teams contesting for the first place prize money of US$10,000 are Hits and Jams Spartans, Georgetown King’s XI, Hotel Tower New Line Cavaliers and defending champions Universal DVD Club Berbice Titans.
Speaking briefly about the competition at the Hits and Jams headquarters, Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, Ferguson said:”Like most Guyanese cricket is our favourite sport and we recognize its importance in Guyanese society.
We are always thinking of ways to make Jamzone better and before we introduced the Masters Cup last year, we saw it and tremendous way to make things in Jamzone more diverse and make it more family oriented. Last year’s turnout was excellent, so we had no hesitation this time around have include the cricket again,” he added.
“With regards to players, the ones from Guyana who haven’t had exposure at the international level for West Indies etc, it’s a chance for them to shine. We believe Guyanese have talented sportsmen and this is our way of trying to help blood them,” he reasoned.
The promoters also hinted at potential improvements for Masters Cup in the future.
“In the coming years, to give the tournament even more prestige, we would try to invite high profile players from outside the West Indies. If we can make that a reality, I’m sure ardent cricket supporters around the Caribbean and especially in Guyana will be very pleased,” they stated.
Georgetown King’s XI:- Shemroy Barrington (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Travis Dowlin, Lennox Cush, Dwayne Smith, Steven Jacobs, Suleiman Benn, Kellon Carmichael, Elton Baker, Shawn De Souza, Totaram Bishun, Derwin Christian, Trevor Benn, Dion Ferrier and Jamal Hinckson (player/assistant coach).
Universal DVD Club Berbice Titans:- Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Devendra Bishoo, Rajiv Ivan, Jonathan Foo, Richard Ramdeen, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Michael Newland, Eon Hooper, Khemraj Mahadeo, Delbert Hicks, Devon Clements and Eugene La Fleur.
Hits and Jam Spartans:- Tyrell Tull (Capt), Robin Bacchus (Vice Capt) Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Andrew Lyght, Sunil Narine, Raj Nannan, Elton Baker, Anthony Adams, Vishal Singh, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Andre Russell, Joshua Wade, Jeetendra Sookdeo, and Christopher Gayle.
Demerara New Line Cavaliers:- Gajanand Singh, Andre Percival, Paul Wintz, Balram Samaroo, Seon Hetmyer, Waheid Edwards, Rajendra Chandrika, Clinton Pestano, Anthony Ifill, Troy Gonsalves Ishwar Singh, Dayanand Roopnarine, Cohen Ismond and Budhan Baksh.
