GCB to run off Inter-County U-17 tourney shortly

By Rajiv Bisnauth –

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) will host its Inter-County Under-17 tournament since the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has confirmed that the regional tournament will be played from June 29 to July 8 in Trinidad and Tobago. In an invited comment on Monday, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie said that logistics to host the tournament are being looked at, adding that the current inclement weather could be a major factor.

“We will definitely have an Inter-County Under-17 tournament from which the national team will be selected, but we have to take into consideration the weather,” Sanasie said.
Players participating in the newest regional age-group tournament must be under the age of 17 years before September 1. Therefore, such a player must be born on or after September 1, 1996.
Jamaica are the defending champions after winning the inaugural tournament last year and will be looking to defend their title against the five other regional teams: Barbados, Guyana, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands.
Meanwhile, Sanasie indicated that the inter-county three-day under-19 tournament will resume when the inclement weather ceases.
The tournament, which bowled off on April 25, was pushed back by one week in the hopes that the weather will change. However, persistent rains since have prevented further continuation of the tournament.
When the tournament commenced the match between the GCB President’s XI and Berbice was slated as one of the two first matches to be played but no ball was bowled due to the weather.
However, the game between Demerara and Essequibo managed to get an hour of action before the weather intervened.
Batting first, Demerara had reached 36 for 3 at stumps. Andrew Gibson was the top scorer with 11. Fast bowler Kemo Paul had taken 2 for 19 in that period of play.
The selection of the national Under-19 team depends on this competition. If there is no on-field play, the selectors and players would be at a disadvantage; as a result it is still to be decided if the competition will start afresh or continue.
On the other hand, Sanasie indicated that an encampment period for the national under-15 squad is currently being finalised.
The regional under-15 tournament is set for Jamaica from July 10 to 26.