GCB Inaugural Under-19 Franchise Tournament Launched

May 29, 2021 Sports

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Kaieteur News – The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) launched the inaugural Under-19 Franchise Tournament in partnership with General Marine, Tropical Spring, Trophy Stall, 4R and E-Networks at the GCB’s Board Room yesterday May 28, 2021. The Tournament which is proposed to be an annual event, will be conducted after the annual Inter-County Under-19 Tournaments. The Franchise Tournament will present a selected pool of talented players involved in a number of competitive trial matches.
This year’s tournament is scheduled to be held at the National Stadium, Providence from today May 29, 2021 at 10:00 hours. The Tournament will include three (3) teams, namely Falcons, Eagles and Amazon Hawks, which will be captained by Matthew Nandu, Zeynul Ramsammy and Marvan Prasad, respectively.
At the launch, President Bissoondial Singh, who outlined the purpose of the Tournament, indicated that due to the fact that CWI was unable to host the Regional Under-19 Tournaments in 2020 and 2021, the executives of the GCB are of the view that such an Under-19 Tournament (which is being live-streamed with commentary) will provide valuable feedback to the CWI selectors and relevant coaching staff on players’ ability and current form. Mr. Singh went on to indicate that the players will also be able to showcase their talents to a wider audience within Guyana, the West Indies region and beyond. He further mentioned that the Franchise Tournament will create a competitive trial match environment in a teamwork context, as against a heavy focus of individual player performance.
This trial environment in a tournament setting will provide the national selectors with a good indicator to the players’ form. Further, the Under-19 Franchise Tournament will provide players with more opportunities for national selection, since it would build on their club, Association and county tournament performances. President Singh was high in praise of the sponsors who readily came onboard. He thanked them for their invaluable contributions and wished that their businesses will continue to excel.
Representative of General Marine, Floyd Allen indicated that their company was privileged to be associated with the GCB and other sponsors in running off this tournament. He wished the players every success in their endeavors.
Young teenaged national player and former West Indies Under-16 player Isai Thorne presented the 4R sponsorship cheque to president of the GCB, Mr. Bissoondial Singh. He praised the GCB for taking this initiative to give Under-19 players an opportunity to play cricket at such a competitive level. He indicated, that based on feedback, players were keen to participate and to have an outside chance of being involved in the West Indies ongoing preparatory activities for the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Representative of Tropical Spring, Aravinda Gainda said their company was very pleased to once again be a part of the GCB activities. He remarked that this was Tropical Spring’s second engagement in sponsoring GCB’s cricket. He indicated that Tropical Spring was looking forward for another successful partnership.
Further, he indicated that their decision to sponsor the Falcons Under-19 team is based on their belief that investing in youths is the best way to proceed with cricket development. He said that the vision their company has and would like to share is that the GCB maintains this league and possibly expand on the number of teams that can be sponsored by various businesses. Gainda posited that this will greatly strengthen the relationship between the private sector and the GCB. He went on to suggest that this approach will simultaneously provide mileage to the sponsors. Additionally, Gainda thanked the GCB for offering Tropical Spring the opportunity to sponsor and pledged their company’s continued support.
Ebullient Proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich, told of his company’s delight in being a part of youth development, and in doing so, pledged to donate all trophies for the tournament.
Mr. Colin Stuart, TDO of the GCB Outlined the structure of the Tournament, indicating that it will take-on a round-robin format with the winner being decided on a point system which may necessitate the use of Net-run rate to determine the champion where two or more teams end the final round on equal points.
The tournament will progress as follows: On Saturday May 29, 2021, Falcons will play Eagles.
On Sunday May 30, 2021 Eagles will battle Amazon Hawks, while on Saturday June 5, 2021 Amazon Hawks will challenge Falcons.
The GCB trusts that this tournament will help to give the U-19 players an opportunity to be selected in the CWI U-19 Preparatory activities for the 2022 World Cup.
The GCB has arranged for an independent match to be played upon conclusion of the tournament on Sunday June 6, 2021 to involve the best performers from the tournament.
All matches will commence at 10:00 hours.
The link for the livestream is: https://youtu.be/W1d9no_WTqg
The teams are:
Falcons
Matthew Nandu Capt.
Sheldon Charles
Sarwan Chaitnarine
Tomani Ceasar
Jason Holder
Addul Ramsammy
Jeremy Sandia
Andre Seepersaud V. Capt.
Brandon Jaikaran
Wazim Mohamed
Pavindra Ganesh
Rudranauth Kissoon
Ajay Gainda
Manager: Yeuraj Khemraj
Coach: Julian Moore
Eagles
Zeynul Ramsammy Capt.
Ricardo Ramdehol
Mavendra Dindyal V. Capt
Oren Gibson
Isai Thorne
Romal Hubbard
Chanderpaul Ramraj
Jonathan Rampersaud
Aryan Persaud
Daniel Mootoo
Chatram Balgobin
Nicko Vincent
Anthony Khan
Alvin Mohabir
Manager: Kumar Bissoondial
Coach: Orin Bailey
Amazon Hawks
Marvan Prashad Capt.
Rampertab Ramnauth
Ushardeva Balgobin
Shamar Yearwood
Trevon Charles
Thaddius Lovell
Gourav Ramesh
Leon Cecil
Zachary Jodah V. Capt.
Collis Noble
Niran Bissu
Anthony Williams
Jadesh Dowlatram
Manager: Shaun Massiah
Coach: Winston Smith

 

 

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