Guyana ready to stage CPL T20

Georgetown (Guyana): Guyana’s events operations manager Alex Graham said that preparations are on track for a successful hosting by Guyana of the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament from July 30 in Barbados.

According to Graham, Guyana’s advantage in hosting its leg is Pakistan’s One-day Internationals against the West Indies at the Guyana National Stadium on July 14 and 16, a leg-up on the other venues. “In Guyana, we have a combination of experience and knowledge that I think will get us to the place we need to be in time. We have in Guyana, the opportunity and the challenge to be very early up in the tournament, since game two is being held here so we are looking to behave here as though the tournament starts here,” he said. “We also have the advantage of there being two West Indies versus Pakistan games at the Stadium, before the CPL games so that gives us a leg up in terms of the preparations that are to take place in the Stadium itself,” said Graham. In perspective, Graham said he expects Guyana to be ready, setting a standard to ensure that the venues that follow after have something to work towards and surpass as it relates to the hosting of the inaugural tournament, before he introduced the other members of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). Head coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Roger Harper, who coached the West Indies from 2000 to 2003, said the Amazon Warriors are expected to get together from July 22, while the franchise holder sees it as important that the local players keep fit. “The squad is due to get together from July 22. At that time, there may be a few international players who will still be on international duties with their team. Prior to that, the franchise sees it critical that the local players are prepared, so that when that camp starts, they are in tip top shape both physically and mentally.” Harper said one of the challenges they are facing at the moment is the weather along with a venue that is good for meaningful practice sessions to take place, adding that the acquisition of an indoor facility to execute some of their training is another option. The CPL T20 tournament will bowl off on July 30 in Barbados, following an opening ceremony and will see Barbados Tridents oppose St Lucia Zouks in the opening encounter, before shifting to Guyana wherein the Amazon Warriors will do battle with Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel the following day at the Guyana National Stadium. IANS