Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 11, 2010 Sports
$1Million in cash & trophies at stake
By Franklin Wilson
With the aim of selecting the best possible Twenty20 team to represent Guyana in the WICB Regional Twenty20 tournament next month in Barbados and the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Digicel has teamed up with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to run off the Digicel Summer Smash competition which will be contested nationally, from today.
The Berbice Free Zone teams, Upper Corentyne Free Weekend, West Berbice Free Talk and New Amsterdam Free Credit will go head to head today and tomorrow at the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground, with the top two teams advancing to the National Playoffs or Super Sixes Stage which commences on June 25.
At yesterday’s launch of the competition held at Digicel’s Main Office Fort & Barrack Streets Kingston, Georgetown, GCB President Chetram Singh explained that the format of the tournament is new to Guyana and the players but is aimed at stimulating exciting competition among the players as only the best will be selected to represent Guyana, regionally.
Singh noted that only the top individual performers will move on as the tournament progresses.
He emphatically stated that players who excel in the teams that do not make it to the Super Sixes stage will be included in the teams that qualify and those players who under perform in the teams going forward will be axed.
Robin Singh, GCB’s High Performance Manager echoed the President’s remarks while stating that the tournament is aimed at exposing as many players and the best quality to the selectors and public in the most exciting format of the game.
Three teams have been selected from Berbice Free Zone (Upper Corentyne Free Weekend, West Berbice Free Talk and New Amsterdam Free Credit), four from Demerara Flex Zone (Georgetown Flex Text, East Coast Flex Check, East Bank Top-up’s and West Demerara Javelin’s) and two from Essequibo Blackberries Zone (North Essequibo Bold and South Essequibo Storm).
West Demerara Javelin’s will be the third team competing in the Essequibo zone. Following round-robin action, the top two teams from each of the three zones will advance to the Super Six stage where the teams (one from each County) will be placed into two groups.
“These teams will always be comprised of the best players so there’s no falling out of the best players. The national selectors have a very big role to play in the teams coming forward and they’ll be assisted by the County selectors. So it’s always a case where the next round will always have the better players; the idea is to get the quality to the top.”
On the final date of the tournament set for July 10th at the Providence National Stadium, 3 matches will be contested including the 3rd place encounter and championship game.
The other game will be an exhibition female Ten10 match featuring the National Female cricketers currently in training, giving them an opportunity to showcase their talent to a wider audience according to Robin Singh. The third-place game will also be a Ten10 affair and promises lots of excitement under lights at the Stadium.
Fans, who will be flocking the various match venues to support their favourite teams and players will not be left out of the off field action and giveaways.
Digicel PR & Events Manager Shonette Moore who chaired yesterday’s presser said they are very pleased to partner with the GCB for this competition noting that it will be suited to families attending since schools will be closed for the August Holiday’s shortly.
“It’s not going to be about cricket but we are also going to add some interactive elements to it as persons who come to the game will be able to win lots of fantastic prizes compliments of Digicel, so it’s going to be lots of fun.”
GCB Marketing Manager Ramsey Ali informed that semis and final are slated for July 9 and 10 and lots of efforts will be placed into the promotion of the competition.
Some of the players who are hoping to make the Guyana team were part of yesterday’s launch; Leon Johnson complimented the initiative and format taken by the entities. “It will be interesting and I think everybody will be looking to perform and I think that’s great.” When the national team is selected, a Digicel Select side will oppose them in a series of practice games to fine tune their preparation.
Fixtures for the Group Stages:
Berbice Free Zone
Date Fixture
11th June 2010 Upper Corentyne Free Weekend vs West Berbice Free Talk Port Mourant
West Berbice Free Talk vs New Amsterdam Free Credit
12th June 2010 Upper Corentyne Free Weekend vs New Amsterdam Free Credit
Demerara Flex Zone
13th June 2010 Georgetown Flex Text vs East Coast Flex Check
East Coast Flex Check vs East Bank Top-up’s Uitvlugt
18th June 2010 GT Flex Text vs East Bank Top-up’s Enmore
Essequibo Blackberries Zone
19th June 2010 North Essequibo Bold vs South Essequibo Storm
South Essequibo Storm vs West Demerara Javelin’s Anna Regina
20th June 2010 North Essequibo Bold vs West Demerara Javelin’s Wakenaam
Super sixes stage starts on June 25.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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