Assessments of several cricket grounds in Guyana’s capital city Georgetown, were recently conducted, as Guyana
prepares for the possible hosting of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Youth World Cup in 2022.
Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Kwame
McCoy, MP, led a team of officials to conduct
the assessments of the Demerara Cricket Club,
Georgetown Cricket Club, Everest Cricket Club and La
Bonne Intention Community Centre grounds.
“The team here came out this afternoon to make our
own assessment and to get an idea as to what the
possibilities are for the usage of any of these facilities
and which might be in shape, notwithstanding minor
works in some instances, to be able to get it to the fit
and proper category more or less.”
A team from the ICC is expected in Guyana very soon
to undertake their own assessment of the grounds.
Minister McCoy said he is optimistic that Guyana will
be able to secure the bid to host the games.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle who was part of the
team expressed similar views. “I think our chances
are as good as any other country. Guyana has hosted
several international events including cricket. We have
the facilities… We will have a team from the ICC here
very soon, they will spend three or four days here and
they will have the final say in the determination of
whether or not these facilities that we have, if they have made
the grade that they will accept,” the sport director said.
Also accompanying Minister McCoy were Chairman of the
National Sports Commission Kashif Muhammad, Assistant
Director of Sport, Melissa Dow-Richardson and Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa
Tucker among others.
The ICC Youth World Cup will feature 16 teams who will
be competing in the 50 overs format of the game for one
month. This is the first time that the West Indies will host the
tournament which they first won in 2016.
Guyana, back in June, submitted its bid to Cricket West Indies
(CWI) to host matches in the ICC Youth World Cup to be held in
the Caribbean in early 2022.
Countries are required to demonstrate their ability to stage
the matches by providing adequate match and training
facilities, undergo a venue inspection, provide immigration,
customs, medical and security support. The countries must also
meet other operational and logistical requirements such as
accommodation for the members of the teams, match officials
and broadcast crew. (DPI)