– To be played from November 11-13
…PM inspires increase in first-place prizes
By Timothy Jaikarran
The highly anticipated PM T20 Cup 6 was officially launched by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Incorporated last Saturday at the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) Ground on Woolford Avenue in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
It will commence on November 11 and conclude on November 13, 2022, and over one million dollars in prizes will be up for grabs.
The Prime Minister was also given a gift by GSCL Inc Secretary Telisha Ousman Yamin
Prime Minister Mark Phillips has lauded the Guyana Softball Cricket League (GSCL Inc) for including a female segment in this tournament, and has increased the prize money from his own personal funds. That gesture inspired businessman Patrick Khan of Khan’s Trading Enterprise to double the first-place prizes in all categories being contested in this cricket tournament.
In giving the feature address at the launching of this tournament, Prime Minister Phillips noted that this yearly event is a signature event for all lovers of softball cricket across Guyana. He explained that since taking office and adopting the tournament, it is only natural for him to make the tournament grow bigger than it was before.
PM Mark Phillips is presented with his T Shirt
“From my interaction with Mr John (GSCL President), I keep asking him for a women’s tournament, so I am happy this year we have four women’s teams participating… this year. But when I look at the prize money, I think we still got some discrimination there, because if we are saying that this is the first women’s tournament, it can’t be $50,000 for first prize. So, personally, I will contribute to raising this first prize from $50,000 to at least $100,000. So, I think what we are doing here is sending a strong message to our females; so, even though we are starting with four teams, we expect the category to grow, and hopefully by next year, we have increased prize money and maybe eight teams,” PM Phillips shared.
He explained that female cricket is growing not only internationally, but in Guyana as well, and as part of this development, the PMT 20 Cup wants to play its part in growing the sport.
Phillips divulged that those who are managing the tournament, inclusive of him being the patron, would be “putting their money where their mouth is.” With the prize money for the females raised, Phillips relayed that he is expecting top-quality performance from the females.
The Teams alongside PM Mark Phillips and GSCL Inc President, Ian John
The Prime Minister also commented, “This tournament must grow. My vision is that the tournament must grow; it must remain a signature event every year, as we have a lot of people who follow the teams, and they come to Guyana too. From a tourism standpoint, it adds to the whole development of Guyana.”
The Prime Minister also noted that the tournament would be a high point, as it commences right after CPL, and he is looking forward to being part of it and seeing it grow this year and into the future.
After the Prime Minister’s feature address, businessman Patrick Khan of Khan’s Trading Enterprise vowed to double the first-place prizes of the three categories contesting; namely, the Male Legends (O50), Male Masters (O40), Allstars and $100,000 towards the Female Allstars, as he related how difficult it is to play the tournament.
The prizes in the
various categories up for the taking this year are:
Masters (Over 50)
* Winner: $600,000 + trophy
* Man of the series: One flat screen 50” TV (valued at $140,000)
Masters (40 years and over)
* Winner: $600,000 + trophy
* Man of the series: One flat screen 50” TV (valued at $140,000)
Allstars (open to all ages)
* Winner: $600,000 + trophy
* Man of the series: One flat screen 50” TV (valued at $140,000)
4-Teams Female T20 (open to all ages)
* Winner: $200,000 + trophy
The defending champions for the 2021 edition are Regal in the Legends Category, Fisherman in the masters O45 category, and Ariel Allstars in the Open category. Also, the top performers for the for the 2021 edition were: Open category: Quintin Sampson of Ariel for his 231 runs and eight wickets. In the Masters category, the MVP was Keith Fraser, and in the Legends category, the MVP was awarded to Unnis Yusuf for his 181 runs and two wickets.
The sponsors on board of this event are: Banks DIH Limited (Rainforest Water), Danny Persaud (youtuber) At our Life ARD, Trophy Stall, P&P Insurance, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, PRO Signs, I&S Trading, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Atlantic Marine Supplies Inc, Tourism Guyana, Reliance Services, Crown Mining Supplies, Rudisa Motor (Guy) Inc, Free Lancer Advertiser Inc, Krsna & Balram Printery, Parsram Discount Store and Rajiv Ghandi University.
