The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has reviewed its performance for 2022 and has given itself a passing grade according to a press release.
The comprehensive release, reviews the activities of the GCB for the year which the organisation said it was satisfied with.
The release chronicled the staging of not only local competitions but regional and international ones as well.
It dealt with sponsorship but not in a detailed manner and acknowledged the contribution of the Irfaan Ali- administration to its development plans.
Following is the summary of the GCB’s activities for the year.
Acknowledgment of government’s contribution to the development and promotion of cricket
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) commends His Excellency President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana for the historic Cricket Carnival Event held in Guyana which coincided with the hosting of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022. The historic feature was conceptualized successfully and merged cricket and sports tourism in a manner that stimulated much interest among cricket enthusiasts from local, regional, and international levels. The GCB is of the view that under the leadership of His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Government of Guyana, through its Ministry of Tourism, will unwaveringly drive the promotion of sports as a complementary tourist attraction to Guyana’s s wildlife, natural marvels and other outstanding landscapes.
The initiative witnessed record crowds at CPL matches played in Guyana, especially the second qualifier match between Jamaica Tallawahs and the host team Guyana and served to rekindle memories of past, high spectator support for cricket. Additionally, the Government of Guyana, through its Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Ministry of Education must be commended for affording thousands of school children an opportunity to witness and be a part of the exciting CPL matches. Clearly, the hype of Cricket Carnival activities blended effectively with a high number of ecstatic tourists throughout the hosting of the Guyana leg of the CPL
Also, the GCB commends His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana for the provision of adequate soil to resurface the GCB’s Cricket Facility at La Bonne Intention (LBI) situated on East Coast Demerara.
Additionally, the GCB is particularly appreciative of His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana for their efforts in the restoration of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) hostel and its practice facility which is situated in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.
Cricket development
The Guyana Cricket Board continued to align the implementation of its Cricket Development Activities with its strategic aims. The GCB’s Five-Year Strategic Plan embraces Cricket West Indies’ two-year incremental development pathway programme.
Hosting of bilateral, regional and international tournaments
The Guyana Cricket Board successfully hosted the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Women tournaments 2022. These tournaments were the CWI Blaze T20 and the CG United Super 50. All matches were played at the National Stadium, Providence, due to persistent rainfall which left many of the earmarked venues in conditions not suitable for play.
The GCB also successfully hosted the inaugural bilateral Under-13 Goodwill Series between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago which comprised four matches. The Trinidad and Tobago visitors were given opportunities to see tourist attraction sites. At the conclusion of the Goodwill series, a simple presentation ceremony was held.
The GCB in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, under its Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and CWI, successfully hosted the Guyana leg of the West Indies versus Bangladesh tour. Four matches were played at the National Stadium, Providence, namely the 3rd T20 and the first, second and third ODI matches.
Inter County tournaments
The Senior Inter-County Super-50 championship was won by Berbice who defeated Essequibo in the final.
The main awardees for the tournament were Leon Johnson for the most runs (233 runs), Romario Shepherd for the most wickets (nine wickets), and Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
The GCB’s Senior Women Inter-County Super-50 tournament was won by Berbice. Berbice finished on top of the points table of the Round Robin tournament. Hemma Singh grabbed the award for the Most Wickets (seven wickets), Katana Mentore for the Most Runs (198 runs) and Shabika Gajnabi the Most Valuable Player of the tournament (173 runs and three wickets).
The GCB’s girls U19, T20 Inter-County tournament was won by Berbice. Berbice finished top of the points table of the Round Robin tournament. The main awardees were Realeanna Grimmond for the Most Runs (120), Niveena Ramnauth for the Most Wickets ( three wickets) and Grimmond for the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
The GCB’s Under-19 Inter County tournament (male) was cancelled due to inclement weather.
The GCB’s Under-17 Inter County tournament was won by Demerara. Demerara finished top of the points table of the Round Robin tournament. Alvin Mohabir collected the award for the Most Wickets (11) and Jonathan van Lange the award for the Most Runs (104).
The GCB/Dave West Indian Imports and Exports Under-15 Inter-County tournament was badly affected by persistent rainfall and though some matches were played, the final could not have been played as scheduled. Sponsorship with International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) was secured by the GCB for a National 40-Overs Under-19 Inter-Club tournament. However, due to the inclement weather, the tournament will now commence in 2023.
Further, in 2022, the GCB was able to secure sponsorship from Republic Bank for a National Under-23 Inter-Club, knockout Super 50 tournament.
This tournament will commence in 2023 and will serve to fill the gap in the player development pathway for players graduating from the Under-19 age group tournaments in search of national selection for the Guyana senior team.
Further, in 2022 the GCB was able to secure sponsorship from Republic Bank for a National Under-23 Inter-Club Knock Out Super 50 tournament. This tournament will commence in 2023 and will serve to fill the gap in the player development pathway for players graduating from the Under-19 age group tournaments in search of national selection for the Guyana senior team.
Regional tournaments
The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) ended second in the points’ table placement in their preliminary Group A matches (16 points), behind Trinidad and Tobago with 18 points. The GHE lost their semi-final match to the Jamaica Scorpions after posting an impressive 318 for 9 off their allotted 50 overs.
However, the Jamaica Scorpions surpassed the GHE score to record 322 for 7 off 48.1 of their allotted 50 overs. Jamaica Scorpions beat Trinidad and Tobago in the CG United Super 50 final.
The Guyana Women’s team was managed by Kavita Yadram with Julian Moore as the Coach and Shemaine Campbelle as captain. The CWI Blaze T20 (Women) and the CG Insurance Super 5O (Women) tournaments were respectively won by Jamaica and Barbados.
The Guyana Senior Women’s team with 10 points placed fourth in the CWI Blaze T20 behind Trinidad and Tobago (14 points), Barbados (16 points with an NRR of 1.428), and Jamaica 16 points with an NRR of 2.171. Jamaica won the CWI Blaze T20 by virtue of a superior net run rate over Barbados.
In the CG Insurance Super 50, Guyana finished on top of the points table with six points in the preliminary Group B matches and Barbados finished on eight points at the end of the preliminary Group A matches. In the semi-final match against Jamaica, Guyana made a paltry 23 all out from 11.2 of their allotted 50 overs. Jamaica in reply made 27 for 2 from 5.1 overs to win by eight wickets. Barbados beat Jamaica by eight wickets in the final which was reduced to 26 overs due to rainfall.
The Guyana Under-19 team was managed by Budhesh Chatterpaul with Andre Percival as the Coach and Alvin Mohabir as captain. Guyana finished fourth in the preliminary rounds of the CWI Rising Star Under-19 Three-Day Championship. Nevertheless, Guyana finished third in the tournament, after defeating Jamaica in the third place decider. The Leeward Islands won the Rising Star Under-19 Three-Day Championship.
Guyana Under 17 team was managed by Neil Rudder with Garvin Nedd as the Coach and Alvin Mohabir as the captain. Guyana finished on 11.6 points just ahead of the Leeward Islands who ended in the cellar position on 8.8 points. Windwards Islands won the tournament, finishing with 17.8 points.
The Guyana Under-15 team was managed by Elroy Stephney and coached by Latchman Yadram with Dave Mohabir as captain. The Guyana Under-15 team placed second in this tournament and was narrowly edged out by Barbados (who finished on 18.4 points) for the Rising Star Under-15 Championship title.
The inaugural bilateral Under-13 Goodwill Series between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago comprised four matches. These matches were played on December 11, December 13, December 17, and December 19. The Guyana Under-13 team won the second match, while Trinidad and Tobago got the better of Guyana on the other three occasions.
A presentation ceremony was held at the match venue, Guyana National Stadium, Providence. Shaan Ramtahal of Trinidad and Tobago received the Player of the match award for the fourth and final match as well as for taking the Most Wickets in the Goodwill Series (13). Trinidad and Tobago’s Vice-captain Mikaeel Ali collected the award for the Most Runs in the Goodwill series (57).
CWI dubbed the age group tournaments, The Rising Stars Championships with reference to the respective categories of Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19. In identifying players for the future, some Guyanese aged group players were earmarked as future potential players. They are Navin Boodwah and Arun Gainda in the Under-15s, Rampertab Ramnauth and Mavendra Dindyal in the Under-17s, and Isai Thorne, Rampertab Ramnauth and Mavendra Dindyal in the Under-19 category. The players identified by CWI are:
CWI Rising Stars Under-15: Darrius Batoosingh, Navin Boodwah, Shem Sargeant, Kemar Dixon, Brendan Boodoo, Matthew Miller, Pajay Nelson, Akobi Crichlow-Byer, Arif Khan, R’Jai Gittens, Arun Gainda; 12th man: Jorden Charles
CWI Rising Stars Under-17: Stephan Pascal, Rampertab Ramnath, Jordan Johnson, Joshua Dorne, Orlando James, Nathan Sealy, Divonie Joseph, Micah McKenzie, Nathan Edward, Solomon Bascombe, Jatario Prescod; 12th man: Mavendra Dindyal
CWI Rising Stars Under-19: Stephan Pascal, Rampertab Ramnath, Jordan Johnson, Ackeem Auguste, Joshua Dorne, Tarrique Edward, Nathan Edward, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, Onaje Amory, Johann Layne, Isai Thorne; 12th man: Mavendra Dindyal
Further, four Under-19 female players were identified by CWI to participate in preparatory activities leading up to the ICC Under-19 female World Cup scheduled to be held in South Africa in January 2023. The players identified are Cyanna Retemiah, Ashmini Munisar, Realeanna Grimmond, and Niveena Ramnath. Coach Steve Liburd visited Guyana prior to the trial matches held in Trinidad to take the four girls through some developmental stages. The sessions were held at the National Stadium, Providence.
International tournaments
West Indies versus Bangladesh
The third T20 match between West Indies and Bangladesh was played at the National Stadium, Providence on July 7. West Indies won the match by 5 wickets. In reply to Bangladesh’s 163 for 5 from 20 overs, West Indies posted 169 for 5 from 18.2 of their allotted 20 overs. However, Bangladesh won all three of the ODI matches played at the National Stadium, Providence. These matches were played on July 10, July 13 and July 17.
Republic Bank Five for Fun
In 2022, through the sponsorship of Republic Bank, the GCB/CWI/Republic Bank Five For Fun Programme, the GCB was able to lend to the development needs of players ages 7 to 9 years-old and 9 to 11 years-old from over 75 five Primary Schools across the County. The programme in 2022 placed emphasis on 25 Primary Schools within each of the three Counties.
The Republic Bank Five For Fun programme was launched on June 21, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
This event was followed by the training of teachers within the three Counties, Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice. The training of teachers focused on the development coaching needs of 150 teachers across the Country, that is, two teachers each from the earmarked 25 Primary Schools within each of the three counties.
Inaugural bilateral Under-13 Goodwill Series (Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago)
The inaugural bilateral Under-13 Goodwill Series between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago was a resounding success in terms of addressing the void in the two-year incremental age gap programme. The implementation of an Under-13 development programme allows players to progressively follow a developmental pathway under the watch of associations, commttiees, counties and national coaches and selectors. The Under-13 development activities are expected to avoid or lessen the reduction in the participation of players in cricket training and matches between the Under-11 and Under-15 ages categories.
This regional initiative realizes a critical aspect of the development pathway of the players. The intent of the Under-13 programme is to expose players to a solid foundation that will aid the development of their game as individual players and team players. By learning the recommended ways to bat, bowl and field at an early age, as well as the mental application required in competitions, the GCB is of the view that the young players will be in a better position to master their technical and mental skills.
Female development and high-performance activities
Efforts to structure female cricket continued during 2022 with training sessions in Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo. These activities were mainly conducted prior to the female Under-19 and senior Inter-County tournaments. The aim is to establish at least two venues in each of the three counties which will realize continuous training activities for girls and women interested in playing cricket.
CWI Level One Coaching Certification Course
Over 40 coaches completed the CWI Level One Coaching Course which was held in April. Individuals with the CWI Foundation Coaching Course Certificate or the ICC (Online) Coaching Coach Certificate were eligible to participate in the Course. Participants who submit the relevant supporting documents of the First Aid Certificate, Child Protection Certificate and Police Clearance within the given timeframe are issued the CWI Level One Coaching Certificate. In support of this requirement, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) arranged First Aid Courses for the coaches to attend with the most recent course being held in Georgetown in October.
GCB’s Cricket Academy Programme
The GCB continued its planning to implement 18 academies across the country. Currently, a detailed plan is being examined for implementation. A pre kick-off meeting was held for the relevant stakeholders to provide them with an overview of the Academy Programme’s needs and requirements. Several facilitators made presentations on the respective topics of interest of the Academy Programme. This included information on technical, skill, fitness, mental, diet and nutrition, and lifestyle of the players. Topics on etiquette and communication including public speaking were addressed. The GCB’s Academy Programme is expected to commence within the first half of 2023.
Guyana Harpy Eagles Training Programme (Contracted, Pay for Play, and Emerging Players)
The Harpy Eagles’ training intensified after the conclusion of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The GHE contracted players, the Emerging Players and those that are identified as the Pay for Play (neither a contracted or an Emerging player) are currently going through preparatory exercises for the CWI Regional Four-Day tournament which begins in early February next year. All players vying for national selection will be required to go through the pre-season fitness assessment and evaluation exercises on January 3, 2023 and January 4, 2023.
Match officials and support staff development initiatives
The training of match officials and support staff is an area of great significance to the effective and professional conduct of cricket matches. In this regard, the GCB expects the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) to submit their proposal on the measures to be implemented for assessing and evaluating the standard of umpires and the procedures for the selection of umpires for the various levels of domestic cricket. Training activities are also planned for Match Referees, Scorers and Groundsmen.
Gear Donation For Youth Players
During 2022, the GCB distributed a large number of cricket gear to associations and committees. The Essequibo Cricket Board accepted donations in aid of its player development programme for its affiliate committees. West Demerara, East Bank Demerara, and Upper Demerara were also beneficiaries of a substantial worth of cricket gear donated by the GCB. All of the recipients gave high commendations to the GCB for their invaluable contribution to the development needs of the youths in their respective counties, associations/committees.
