In a promising and vital partnership, Hand-In-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited replaced GTM as the Guyana Cricket Board’ s prestigious Under-19 official sponsor. This sponsorship will cover both forms of the game played at this level, namely the One Day 50-Overs and 3-Day Inter-County Championships. It should be noted, that the Inter County Championship will also include a fourth team, that of the National Under-17 Team. This championship is viewed as essential, since it captures a cadre of young and exciting talent, in competitive environment fit for promoting player and team growth.
GCB President Drubahadur, HIH Representatives and WI WC U-19 heroes at the launch of the U-19 Inter-County 2016
Hand In Hand sponsorship comes at a welcoming time, as the GCB sets out to implement a formidable cricket structure geared at creating fair play, discipline, competitiveness, commitment, professionalism and excellence. To attain such a valuable cricket model, the GCB requires the support and sponsorship of reliable and trusted partners. As a consequence, Hand In Hand perfectly fits that role, replacing a void in sponsorship at this level for the past few years, during which the GCB took up the slack. However, the GCB wishes to recognize our previous sponsor GTM, whose long standing sponsorship for over 30 years has been greatly appreciated.
The significance of sponsorship of the GCB Under- 19 Inter County Championship cannot be underestimated, since this tournament has contributed immensely to a number of former and current National and West Indies players. Currently, the Guyanese trio (Captain Shimron Hetmyer, Vice -Captain Keemo Paul and wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach) who represented victorious U-19 West team at the ICC World Cup 2016 all came through this GCB inter-county format. These players have all contributed significantly to the West Indies U-19 triumph, making all West Indians proud. However, the GCB wishes to inform that Ashaya Persuad was also a part of the West Indies U-19 squad, but unfortunately suffered an injury prior to departure.
Hand In Hand takes over sponsorship at a time when Guyana’s cricket is on a high, winning back to back WICB Regional Under 19 Tournaments in 2014 and 2015. With Hand In Hand sponsorship secured on an annual basis, Guyana and West Indies cricket is geared to catapult to new heights of regional and international dominance.
Hand-in-Hand previously sponsored the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) second division competition for over three decades. That competition involved over 100 cricket clubs all over Demerara.
The GCB are exceedingly proud and delighted to have Hand-In-Hand on board as our new and honored sponsor. The GCB eagerly looks forward to this purposeful and meaningful partnership, which is set to embrace a new dimension of professionalism. The GCB wishes Hand In Hand all success in its endeavours.
This partnership would also see the Hand in Hand group declared the official insurer of the Guyana Cricket Board.