Covid-19 Stalls local cricket

Mar 17, 2020 Sports

The Global Pandemic Covid-19 or coronavirus has also spread to the local Sports World resulting in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) following the lead of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and postponing all local cricket competitions for a month.

UCCA’s Sidney Jackman and BCB’s Hilbert Foster.

GCA’s Shaun Massiah

Chairman of the Competitions Committee of the GCA, Shawn Massiah informed that among the tournaments affected is the annual New York tri-state and GCA’s U-19 fifty overs competition which was scheduled to commence on April 7.
“We have not played any cricket since Mash day because of the First-Class games at Providence and then Elections …and now the Coronavirus (Covid-19). The New York Tri-State U-19 team was a part of the tournament but canceled their tour to Guyana due to the spread of the virus worldwide,” Massiah lamented.
President of the BCB Hilbert Foster disclosed that while no Covid-19 related illnesses have been reported in Berbice, the BCB has decided to put all of their competitions on hold.
“I have only seen one person in Rose Hall Town wearing a face mask but since the outbreak of the Virus was reported in Guyana, only one or two players have been coming to practice and the only area in Berbice that cricket is still being played is in the Upper Corentyne,” Foster informed.
When contacted, President of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA), former Guyana Wicket-Keeper Sidney Jackman, confirmed that their premier First Divison competition is at the final stage and is set to conclude on Sunday.
“We have planned to play our final on Sunday from 13:00hrs at number 69 Village as a big event with music and ball-by-ball commentary. After that game we will close off all cricket for a month or until this situation improves,” Jackman said.
“We have planned a meeting for tomorrow with the Sponsors, the UCCA and all stake holders to confirm what activities we will have on Sunday,” Jackman concluded.
CWI have postponed the last two rounds of the CWI four-day Championships for a month but Barbados on 134.8 points, are in an unassailable position and have already won their 22nd title with two rounds to go.
All other West Indies Regional tournaments including the female, U-15 and U-17 have also been halted for a month, while all ICC’s International series have also been put on hold due to Covid-19.
The Indian Premier League is also delayed with one of the options is to play the tournament as a closed door event. (Sean Devers)

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