On Wednesday 17th May, 2017 the Guyana Cricket Board and Hand in Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited hosted the launching of the Under 19 Inter County tournament 2017. The launching took place in the sponsor’s Board room at its main branch situated in Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
Howard Cox, Director and Fire Manager, was high in praise for the current Guyana Cricket Board. He posited that while the GCB may have its detractors, they have exemplified themselves well, by being able to reap successes at varying levels of regional competition. He particularly made mention of the Guyana Jaguars four day team, which have won Cricket West Indies Regional four day Professional Cricket League for the third consecutive year of its implementation.
Further, Cox was high in praise for the Guyana Under-19 team which in 2016 won the Regional One Day 50 Overs Championship for the third consecutive year. The Director further expressed his delight, to see Shimron Hetymer (as a product of the Hand In Hand Inter County Competition and the GCB’s player development program), progressing to the West Indies as such an early point in his career. He opined that this fact was very encouraging to young players, the GCB, sponsors and other stakeholders.
Anand Sanasie, the Secretary of the GCB indicated that, the GCB is proud to be associated with the Hand in Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited. According to him, the insurance entity shares a rich collaborative working relationship with local cricket boards; their sterling contribution to the development and promotion of cricket in Guyana is highly recognised and appreciated. He further posited that this year, Hand In Hand recommits to the Board, by entering into the second year of the a three (3) year agreement, to sponsor the GCB’s prestigious Under19 Inter County Tournament.
Sanasie pointed out that this under19 Inter County championship has a proud history of producing a number of outstanding national players at both the under 19 and senior levels.
One recent product of this under 19 programme is Hetymer who has graduated to the West Indies senior team. He noted that it is with great delight and appreciation that the GCB engages Hand In Hand as the proud sponsor of this significant tournament. “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”, the Secretary pointed out.
(L-R): GCB TDO Colin Stuart, WI Selectee Joshua Persaud, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie, HIH Director and Fire Manager Howard Cox, HIH HR Manager Zaida Joaquin and WI U-19 player Bashkar Yadram
He noted that as a consequence, the championship both give our national selectors an opportunity to observe the talents available for the 2017 national under 19 team to represent Guyana in the WICB Regional tournament which will be played in St. Kitts this year. Further, it enables the selectors to add players to the pool of emerging players that are being groomed along a senior career path.
In conclusion, Sanasie stated that Hand In Hand’s sponsorship of the GCB’s Under 19 Inter County Tournament is clearly an invaluable one, and will enable the Guyana National Team to adequately prepare to defend their WICB Regional One Day Championship Title, a title we have won for the past three years, and to lift the 2017 WICB Regional three Day Tournament Title.
The tournament commences on Monday 29th May, 2017 with the one day format, of which the final will be played on Friday 2nd June, 2017 at the National Stadium-Providence, commencing from 09:30h.
The three day format will commence with the first round of matches from 10:00 hours on Tuesday 6th June, 2017 and it is scheduled to conclude on Friday 16 June, 2017.
