For the eighth consecutive year, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) will be organizing the New Building Society-sponsored second division 40-over tournament.
The event was introduced with a simple launching at the company’s Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown branch yesterday with Chairman of the Board, Floyd McDonald.
McDonald expressed the company’s satisfaction with the stewardship of the GCA and said that it is with the recognition of those at the helm of the association that NBS granted the request for the sponsorship.
He revealed that the financial institution is also sponsoring a tournament of a similar nature in Berbice which is also set to begin once the weather is conducive to cricket.
McDonald revealed that in the pipeline there is a clash between the two top teams in Berbice and Georgetown this year in a T20 format to decide the true champion.
McDonald said that this tournament is a testament to the company’s investment in not only sport, charity and education but its contribution to the development of lives.
In addition, he said that it is here where the development begins which is then transferred to the country and region before reaching the international stage in the form of the West Indies team while acknowledging the perils of that unit.
NBS has also decided to reward the media for their efforts of informing the public of the work done by the cricketers and sponsors with Stabroek Sport’s Romario Samaroo winning the prize for extensive coverage of the tournament during last season.
President of the GCA, Roger Harper thanked the company for its confidence in the body to sponsor the tournament once again and informed the gathering that eight players that would have participated in the competition last year have gone on to represent West Indies at various levels. He also recognized the contributions of Chandrapaul Hemraj and Sherfane Rutherford who are both with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and participated in the competition.
Harper, speaking on behalf of the teams said that they are “anxiously” looking forward to the competition. The former West Indies player also said that the tournament provides real opportunities for the players to showcase their talent and not only benefit players in Georgetown but across the country. Meanwhile Chairman of the Competitions Committee, Shaun Massiah detailed the tournament’s structure which is expected to begin on September 29.
Massiah explained the tournament will be divided into two zones and will see teams earning 10 points for a win, five batting points for scoring over 200 runs and five bowling points for taking 10 wickets. He added that there will also be a mandatory 16 overs of seam as well as the implementation of free hit for all forms of no balls. Teams will also be playing in colored clothing and the semifinal along with the final will be played under lights.
Zone A will feature Sophia, Demerara Cricket Club, Transport Sports Club, GNIC, Police Sports Club, Ace Warriors and last year’s runner up, Everest.
Zone B will include defending champions, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Muslim Youth Organisation, Gandhi Youth Organisation, Third Class, Diplomats, Guyana Defense Force, University of Guyana and Malteenoes.
GCC have won the tournament on four occasions, winning the first three editions as well as last year where they defeated Everest by 162 runs.
