Cricket very much alive and well in Guyana, says Cox

DIRECTOR and Fire Manager at Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Howard Cox, believes that Guyana’s cricket performances on the field of play signify that the game is very much alive and well locally.

Cox made the statement yesterday during the launching ceremony of the third edition of the Guyana Cricket Board/Hand-in-Hand Insurance Inter-county Under-19 competition, set to start on April 10.

The launching took place in the sponsor’s Boardroom of its main branch situated at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
Cox said the company was pleased with the execution of the tournament last year, and since Guyana’s cricket has been the highpoint at all levels, it was easy to once again renew the contract with the board.

“Cricket is very much alive and well in Guyana,” Cox said.
He added, “Our senior team continues to dominate, winning the Regional Four-day title four years in a row. They say winning is a habit and losing is a habit, and it’s very pleasing to us (because) Hand-in-Hand likes to back winners and it seems like the Guyana cricket teams no doubt, by the urgings of the board, have developed this winning habit.”
Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanasie, said that both parties viewed the tournaments as an ideal grounding for players.

“The GCB views this tournament as critical to the growth and empowerment of our young players, in that it serves as the main domestic catalyst for the mobility of players to the senior level. Two recent products of this Under-19 programme are Shimron Hetymer and Keemo Paul who have graduated to the West Indies senior team,” Sanasie declared.

He added, “After last year’s tournament five Guyanese – Bhaskar Yadram, Ronaldo Ali Mohamed, Raymond Perez, Joshua Persaud and Ashmead Nedd – were a part of the West Indies Under-19 World Cup squad, so the tournament is clearly an invaluable one, and will also enable the national team to adequately prepare to defend their Regional One-day and three-day championships title.”

The tournament commences with the three-day format on April 10. In round one the Select Under-17 team will oppose the defending champions Demerara at Everest while Essequibo face off with Berbice at Lusignan.

Round two is billed for April 14-16 with Demerara up against Berbice at GCC while the Select Under-17 team come up against Essequibo at Everest.
The third and final round will be played from April 18 to 20. Essequibo will face Demerara

at Tuschen while Berbice and the Select Under-17 team clash at GCC.
The one-day format will commence with the first round of matches on April 22. After three rounds of cricket the two top teams will meet in the final on April 28.