By Akeem Greene
There is a likelihood that the Guyana Harpy Eagles could play their remaining three matches in the ongoing West Indies Four-Day Championship at home instead of Trinidad and Tobago when the season restarts on March 15.
The first two rounds were staged in Antigua and Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago where the final three rounds of last season were hosted, and the same was set to recur this season.
However, reliable sources indicated to News Room Sport on Wednesday that “tremendous efforts are being made for Guyana to host some of the matches.”
Harpy Eagles, currently engaged in a round-two match against Windward Volcanoes in Grenada, played their first round in Antigua, against defending champions, Barbados Pride.
“There are some discussions ongoing…I think one of the venues in Trinidad may not be available for the entire period, so there is some discussion about how we can work around that. As to where those games go, if they are moved and if that comes to fruition, I can’t confirm that at this point in time”, Roland Holder, Cricket West Indies Operations Manager, expressed Tuesday evening on Barbadian radio programme, Mason and Guest.
The venue in question is Deigo Martin Sporting Complex, which hosted matches last season, and might not be available for usage, however, Holder further stated, “I am sure you are aware there are other venues in Trinidad which have First-Class status.”
The source indicated the hopeful scenario, at minimum, is the Harpy Eagles’ three matches are shifted to Guyana and other matches remain in the twin-island republic.
Harpy Eagles are scheduled to play Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Jamaica Scorpions, and Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their remaining three rounds.
Leon Johnson, captain of the Guyana Harpy Eagles, who also appeared on the show stated, “that would be very nice”, should Guyana host matches this season.
Since the season ended abruptly after eight rounds in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Guyana has not hosted Regional Four-Day matches, with the subsequent two championships trimmed to five rounds and hosted in Barbados, Trinidad, Antigua, and Grenada.
From the commencement of the Professional Cricket League in the 2014-15 season, the Four-Day Championship was ten rounds of matches (five home and five away), and the Harpy Eagles won for five straight seasons until the pandemic.
Prior to the start of round two, the Eagles, who finished third last season, has 20 points.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are second with 10.2 points and Windward Islands Volcanoes (8.4 points), is in third.
Leeward Islands Hurricanes (7.4 points), Jamaica Scorpions (6.2 points), and Pride, 4.8 points, round off the table.
