Massiah confident in GCA’s progress, sets priorities for 2026

Shaun Massiah, a key figure in Guyana’s cricket administration and Chairman of the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Competitions Committee, has expressed optimism about the state of cricket in the association and shared plans for its further development in 2026.
Speaking on the standard of cricket run under the GCA, Massiah said that despite perceptions of low standards, significant progress has been made.
“Overall, I would rate the standard of GCA-run cricket as very good. I know many people may say the standard is low, but every year the GCA strives to make it better than the year before. We are always looking at ways to improve cricket across Guyana, and especially in the Demerara area. For me, the standard is very good,” he stated.
He added that competitions at all levels have been highly competitive. “Whether in the Second Division or the First Division, the cricket at that level was extremely competitive throughout,” Massiah noted.
The GCA has also focused on using its competitions to develop young talent. Massiah highlighted the progress of players such as Jonathan Van Lange, Shamar Apple, Tevin Imlach, Riyaz Latif, and Lomar Seecharan. The latter two have recently represented Guyana at various youth levels. “I would say the competitions did very well in preparing these players at the various levels,” he said.
For 2026, Massiah outlined several key priorities for the GCA. “One of our main priorities is to work very closely with each club and their players to implement developmental programmes. We are also looking at assessing ground facilities to properly run our competitions. That has been a major challenge over the years, but it has been improving, and we are hopeful that this year all grounds in Georgetown will be available and ready for cricket,” he explained.
He also stressed the importance of sponsorship in maintaining and expanding competitions. “Currently, we have the First-Division 50-overs competition at the semi-final and playoff stage, the Second-Division two-day competition at the semi-final and final stage, and the Second-Division T20 competition at the semi-final and final stage. We also have some new competitions coming on stream this year. These are some of the key priorities we are focusing on for 2026.”
In addition, the GCA is placing emphasis on the growth of women’s cricket. “We are also looking to get our women’s competitions up and running and to find the best ways to encourage more women to come out and play,” he confirmed.
Massiah’s statements reflect the GCA’s ongoing commitment to raising standards, developing young talent, and expanding opportunities for cricketers across all levels in the GCA.