Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 07, 2010 Sports
Insurance company pumps $3.2M in to 34th annual tourney
By Sean Devers
The GTM under-19 Three-Day cricket competition bowls off from 10:00hrs today at the Uitvlugt ground in West Demerara with Demerara playing Essequibo in the opening round before the One-Day format commences on April 19 at Blairmont in West Berbice.
The GTM competition, which began in 1976, was officially launched yesterday at the GTM Head Office in Georgetown and a cheque of $3.2 Million was presented to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) for the staging of the three-team tournament.
This is the largest sponsorship by GTM in the 34-year-old history of the competition which has produced all but two of Guyana’s West Indies Test players since the GTM competition was first played.
Clyde Butts and Neil McGarrell are the only two Guyanese players in the last three decades to play Test cricket without participating in the GTM competition.
Guyana’s premier youth cricket tournament began as a Three-Day competition but a One-Day competition has been included for over a decade now after the introduction of a Regional under-19 limited overs series to complement the Three-Day version which began in 1999 in Barbados.
GCB President Chetram Singh, in his first public appearance since he was forced to seek medical attention in the USA earlier this year, thanked GTM for their continued support of the Inter-County U-19 competition and stressed the importance of the tournament to the future of Guyana’s cricket.
Singh, the GCB head since 1991, told the gathering with included key members of the GCB; Vice-President Faizul Bacchus, Secretary Anand Sanasie and Marketing Manager Ramsay Ali along with high-ranking GTM officials and the Media, that this competition is critical to the development of Guyana and West Indies cricket since this is the stage where many players make cricket their career and future International greats can be seen emerging.
Beverly Harper, one of GTM Directors, handed over the cheque and championship trophies to Singh and said that the company, which has provided sound, solid and reliable coverage for 120 years, was fully committed to the development of Guyana’s cricket.
Harper, an avid cricket fan, said GTM is proud to be associated with the GTM under-19 competition especially since it is a youth tournament.
“We need to participate in things that aid youth development and cricket is a culture in Guyana and a great way of improving them as persons. Like GTM, we want to produce sound, solid and reliable cricketers at the crease for more than just a few overs and we are pleased to be playing a role in the future of Guyana’s cricket,” Harper said.
“We (Guyana’s cricket) have not been doing too well recently and sponsorship to keep the game alive is very important. GTM truly loves cricket…..several Directors would pass little notes on the scores in matches during board meetings so GTM is proud to play a part in ensuring cricket survives in Guyana and the West Indies,” Harper said.
The 2nd round of the competition is set for the Anna Regina ground in Essequibo from April 11-13 when Essequibo face Berbice while Berbice and Demerara oppose each other in the final round of the Three-Day competition at the Police ground in the city from April 15-17.
Essequibo and Berbice clash in the opening One-Day game at Blairmont on April 19 while Essequibo and Demerara play at Anna Regina on April 21 and Berbice and Demerara battle each other at DCC in the final round on April 23.
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