WICB Scraps U-19 One-Day Format
Hosts Guyana will face the Leeward Islands at Everest from August 8-10 in their opening match in the 2006 TCL regional uunder-19 three-day cricket competition while defending champions Trinidad and Tobago face off with Jamaica at the Test venue Bourda.
Barbados, the runner up for the last two years, will battle the Windward Islands at the Police ground in the other first round encounter.
The competition will run from August 8-30 and a three-day final at Bourda between the two top teams on the points standing after five rounds of the round robin competition, will decide a winner.
Chetram Singh, President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and a Director on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said the one-day competition (which was added to the three-day format in 1999) was shelved this year due to purely cricketing reasons.
"The Cricket Committee of the WICB, headed by Clive Lloyd decided that in the best interest of the development of West Indies cricket, no one-day tournament would be played this year. It was felt that since no youth world cup was scheduled for 2007, it was better to revert to the original format of round robin three-day matches with a final at the end. More three-day cricket will be played by the youngsters and this decision had nothing to do with money," Singh said.
The GCB top man stressed that the one-day format could be reintroduced next year.
While he declined to disclose what the TCL sponsorship was worth, Singh said that US$195,000 will be spent to run the competition in Guyana. This is without the cost for airfare for the teams and payment of players and officials.
Singh stressed that the importance of this competition for the development of West Indies cricket noting that this is the stage just before many of the players progress into their national teams and eventually into West Indies cricket.
"Both of Guyana?s current test players (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul and (Ramnaresh) Sarwan played for the West Indies before they turned 20 and I am sure that many will be anxiously watching to see any new talent that might emerge to lift West Indies cricket to where it once was. Maybe one or two will even make it to the World Cup and of course the West Indies selectors will be in Guyana for the tournament,? Singh added.
The grounds were inspected on Monday (July 17) and although the recent rainy period has not completely ended, all six grounds identified to host matches are being prepared.
Malteenoes, GYO, GNIC and the Police number two grounds will be used as the practice venues and Singh assured that everything is in place for the Competition which Guyana last hosted in 2003 when Trinidad and Tobago won the title.
The five teams are expected in Guyana on August 6 and an opening ceremony is scheduled for the next day.
Guyana?s President Bharrat Jagdeo on July 21 announced that the date for Guyana?s national elections is August 28 (the same day the final is scheduled to commence) but GCB officials are confident that this will in no way affect the smooth running of this year?s under-19 series.
TCL GROUP UNDER-19 FIXTURES
August 8-10
Guyana vs Leewards at Everest
Windwards vs Barbados at Police
Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago at Bourda
August 12-14
Jamaica vs Leewards at Wales
Barbados vs T&T at Enmore
Guyana vs W/Wards at DCC
August 16-18
Barbados vs Jamaica at Everest
Guyana vs T&T at Police
Leewards vs Windwards at Bourda
August 20-22
Jamaica vs Guyana at Enmore
Leewards vs Barbados at Wales
T&T vs Windwards at DCC
August 24-26
Windwards vs Jamaica at Everest
Leewards vs T&T at Police
Barbados vs Guyana at Bourda
August 28-30
Final at Bourda