The Everest Cricket Club will be a hive of activity this weekend when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) in collaboration with its sponsors, bowl off the inaugural 12/12 cricket competition from 09:30hrs.
The tournament was launched yesterday at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation Sports Club and GSCL’s president Seewchan and president of its parent body the Guyana Softball League (GSL), Halim Khan, said they were happy to be staging the staging tournament.
“It is indeed an honor for us to be launching this tournament for the first time” said Seewchan.
He added that the tournament was in the pipeline for over two years but could materialise owing to the numerous tournaments played and sanctioned by the GSL.
Sewchan said it was the initiative of the captains, players and fans, which prompted the GSCL to organize the tournament and, with support from the sponsors, it is now a reality.
“The GSCL with the support and blessings of the GSL intend to make this tournament an international one soon and weather permitting, we are hoping to complete this tournament within the stipulated time frame, using daylight, with the GSCL supplying all teams with t-shirts,” stated Seewchan.
In his brief remarks, Khan applauded the GSCL for organising the tournament and stated that the 12 competing teams should be branded “Super 12” for upcoming tournaments.
“You should name the 12 teams in this tournament “Super 12” for future tournaments, since they will be doing battle to decide who is the best in such a tournament that promises to be an exciting one,” Khan suggeste.
He called on the players to respect the decision of the umpires at all times, stating that the GSL did not wish to see any unnecessary protests being filed, especially if the player/s in question was wrong.
He also said that no player will be allowed to play for another team, after their original team has been eliminated.
The 12 competing teams were placed in four groups of three, from which the draw for Saturday and Sunday’s matches along with the semifinals was held.
Group A consists of Memorex, Herstelling and Smith XI, Group B is made up of Speed Boat, Recharge and Farm XI, Trophy Stall, Hill Foot Vipers and Universal DVD Titans comprise Group C, with Cotton Field Wildoats, Bartica Challengers and Regal XI competing out of Group D.
For Saturday’s matches which follows the opening ceremony for which Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, is expected to deliver the opening remarks, Speed Boat will oppose Recharge, with Farm XI playing the winner and loser of that contest in that order in a group B fixture.
Teams competing out of group D will complete the day’s action which will have Universal DVD Titans taking on Regal XI In the first encounter, with HillfootHilHillfoot Vipers taking on the loser of the opening match followed by a contest against the winner.
For Sunday’s action, Memorex playing out of Group A, will oppose Herstelling in the opening encounter, with Smith XI taking on the loser of the first encounter, before they tackle the winner while in group D, Bartica Challengers will oppose Regal XI in the first match, with Cotton Field Wild Oats taking on the winner and loser respectively.
At stake in the competition is $600,000 and a trophy for the winner, the runner up will receive $200,000 and a trophy, the best batsman and bowler $5,000 and a trophy each while the man of the Series will receive a 3 piece suite, Black and Decker Oven and one Hamilton Beach juice extractor.
Dilo Enterprise, DC Promotions, Five Star Minerals, El Dorado Trading and Ryan and Reuben Mahadeo (all out of Bartica), Star Party Rentals, Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies, Romain Car Wash, Bank of Baroda, Ravi Sarwan and Trophy Stall are some of the sponsors on board with this tournament.
The semifinals and finals will be contested next Sunday at the same venue, with the winner of group A taking on the top team from group C in the first semifinals, while the second semifinal will see group B and D winners clashing.
