Guyana Under-19 girls sponsored by Top Brandz Distributors departed Guyana this morning to compete in the Regional Under-19 Invitational Women’s Twenty20 Tournament which is slated for June 22-25. In preparation for the Tournament, 22 players were encamped for six days at the GCB’s Training Facility in LBI, ECD.

Chief Executive Officer of Top Brandz Distributors, Wayne James, met with the girls before their departure and wished them success on the tour. He stated that he is privileged to be associated with the development of cricket, noting that development starts with the youths.

Territorial Development Officer of GCB, Colin Stuart, also spoke to the team. He congratulated the girls on making the national squad, and reminded them that others would have loved to be in their shoes. He thanked them for their eagerness, keenness and willingness to learn and to grow during the camping period, and indicated to them about the importance of performing when it matters.

Stuart stated, that the benefits of all the discipline and hard demonstrated prior to the regional tournament, will all come down to how you each play as individuals and as a part of the unit – the team, in every even match. He stated that how well you play on that given day, is what will matter most. As such, I will like to implore to give of your best as an individual and as a team in every match. Your best is what is required, and the GCB asked for nothing more than such, since we are convince that performing at your best will bring us regional victory.

Stuart also specified that there are other incentives to performing well, such as gaining a structured career path in cricket. He stated that the professionalism of women cricket is growing, and that performing at high standards is likely to promote the women game and catapult it to a similar lucrative level as male cricket.

Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, visited the ladies during their practice sessions at GCC ground in Bourda and was highly impressed with their eagerness to compete. He wished them an injury free tournament and urged them to be professionals and represent their country well. He noted that this exposure would definitely boost their cricket development.

Guyana squad reads: Mandy Mangru (captain), Plaffiana Millington (vice-captain), Deborah Vanderstoop, Sheneta Grimmond, Amanda Persaud, Shabika Gajnabi, Kaysia Shultz, Lafona Gilgeous, Aleema Arokium (wicket-keeper), Marian Samaroo, Yogeeta Balkishun, Tasleema Bacchus, Russhanna Lynch, and Dian Prahalad. The Manager is Devika Gobin and the Coach is Julian Moore.

FIXTURES

Wednesday

• T&T vs. Windwards, Gilbert Park, 9.30 a.m.
• Barbados vs. Guyana, National Cricket Centre, 9.30 a.m.
• T&T vs. Guyana, Gilbert Park, 2.30 p.m.
• Barbados vs. Windwards, National Cricket Centre, 2.30 p.m.

 Friday

• T&T vs. Barbados, National Cricket Centre, 9.30 a.m.
• Windwards vs. Guyana, Gilbert Park, 9.30 a.m.
• Semi-final 1, Gilbert Park, 2.30 p.m.
• Semi-final 2, National Cricket Centre, 2.30 p.m.

 Saturday

• Third-place playoff, Gilbert Park, 9.30 a.m.
• Final, National Cricket Centre, 9.30 a.m.