The dedication to West Indies Cricket in Guyana and across the Caribbean reveals a unique degree of love and passion for the game, unrivaled anywhere else in the world.
It has produced international cricketers in all forms of the game—Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).In 1928, against England, Maurice Fernandes became the first Guyanese player to represent the West Indies when he played in their inaugural Test match. Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the leading Guyanese run scorer in Tests and ODIs, having scored 11,867 runs in Tests and 8,778 in ODIs.
Cricket is an important part of celebrating the India-Guyana bond and the Indian Premier League (IPL) has offered the opportunity to many Guyanese players. The Indian Premier League (IPL), which attracts the best cricketing talent and weighty sponsorships from across the globe, is the most-attended cricket league in the world. Shimron Hetmeyer’s retention with the Rajasthan Royals along with Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford have been major stars in the IPL tournament over the years. Like every major event though, the IPL has the potential to change the game forever.
In a land where cricket is more than a sport but a way of life, the announcement that Guyana will be one of the host nations for the ICC T20 World Cup has sparked widespread excitement and anticipation. This enthusiasm is often seen during IPL, rivalling the Indian fans. The country is taken over by the fever of cricket and fans cheer on their home players and the teams they are a part of. This passion and love for cricket isn’t limited to home players and teams though. The presence of Indian community in Guyana has also helped in developing cricket as a means of emotional bridge with their home country. Thus, cricket much like in India has served as more than a mere game. It is followed and played religiously across different communities much like in India. What one might be surprised about is the sheer distance that separates the two countries yet how similar is people’s love for cricket. The much-cheered tours of the national teams to the other country are a testament of the same.
The veteran sportsman and proud Guyanese native, Steven Jacobs, highlighted the immense benefits that such events bring not only to the sport but also to the country’s economy and unity. Forty-one matches will be played in the Caribbean across six different nations, with semi-finals in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, before the title decider scheduled to be played in Barbados on 29 June. India will play the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup in Guyana on June 27 if the cricketing giants reach the last four stage of the competition. As per ICC’s playing conditions for the showpiece in the USA and Caribbean. The match, scheduled in Guyana, is better suited for the Indian television audience. The second semifinal will start at 8.30 PM IST and will have an added time of 250 minutes if the game is impacted by weather. The added time for the first semifinal will be applied over two days. India will be aiming to win an elusive ICC trophy and they will begin their campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5 before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue on June 9.High Commissioner of India to Antigua and Barbuda based in Guyana hosted a reception for the Indian U19 team winning the ICC World Cup for 5th time in tournament held in West Indies in Hotel Royalton Antigua on 5 February 2022.It’s a time-honoured custom where the Indian High Commissioner hosts the visiting team for a reception. With the ICC T20 World Cup on the horizon, the fervor for cricket in Guyana and the broader Caribbean continues to shine brightly, promising unforgettable moments for fans and players alike.