By Avenash Ramzan
The government of Guyana this week 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.
In March, CWI said it is undertaking a thorough regional bid process for Caribbean countries wanting to host matches in the 16-team tournament, which will take place over a one-month period.
This is the first time the West Indies will host the event and it is likely to be staged across three host countries and will include the game’s future stars competing in 64 matches in the 50-over format.
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. on Friday afternoon confirmed Guyana’s submission of a bid to host games in the prestigious global event.
“The Ministry is confident of being able to be successful in that bid, but obviously it’s still a competitive process, it has to be evaluated. But we believe our bid is strong,” Ramson Jr. told media operatives on the sidelines of an event at his Ministry.
Countries have been 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, as well as other operational and logistical requirements including accommodation for the members of the teams, match officials and broadcast crew.
Once all bids have been reviewed the successful host countries will be announced.
Those selected will have the opportunity to promote their country to over 75 million people who will be watching from all over the world. This tournament will also inject an estimated US$10 million into the economy of each host nation.
CWI President Ricky Skerritt had expressed the region’s excitement to host the tournament.
“This particular Under-19 cricket event has been growing in popularity because it puts on show the top teams and the future star players of world cricket. The expectations for a high standard of performance by our own Under-19 Rising Stars has elevated, and we have to do all we can to help them get well prepared.”
Skerritt added: “Most importantly, such a major undertaking reminds us that the people of the West Indies care greatly about cricket and are happy to welcome visiting cricketers, their families, and fans alike to our shores. Fortunately, three such major ICC world events have been successfully hosted by the Caribbean before, including the Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2007, Men’s and Women’s T20 World Cups in 2010; and the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2018.
In spite of the challenges that will be faced, our past successes give us the confidence that our people are highly professional and competent and are more than capable of delivering a world-class event, despite having less than a year to deliver it.”
The 16 teams will battle for one of the eight spots in the Super League stage before having the chance to win the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy. The remaining eight teams will fight for the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Plate.
West Indies have won the tournament once before, in February, 2016, when they beat India in the final in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
