By Ben McLeod (CNW)- The stage is being set for a unique global cricket spectacle, and Raj Singh believes Guyana is ready to deliver an Over-40s World Cup worthy of its historic significance.
Singh, chairman of the Cricket West Indies Masters Association, says preparations for the International Masters Cricket World Cup are progressing exceptionally well as the South American nation prepares to welcome 16 teams for a tournament spanning more than two weeks.
Speaking Tuesday evening on the Mason and Guest Radio program, Singh outlined an ambitious event that will bring former international stars and accomplished veteran cricketers together in a celebration of the game across Guyana.
The tournament is scheduled to begin October 17, with matches being staged at venues throughout the country before the championship concludes November 1 with the grand final at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
A tournament built across Guyana
The scale of the competition is reflected in its venue list.
Games are scheduled for the National Stadium, Anna Regina, Joe Jagmohan Hampton Court, Albion, Lusignan, Bourda, Enmore, Linden, DCC and Police, Eve Leary.
For Singh, however, the tournament represents more than a series of cricket matches. It is an opportunity to place Guyana at the center of an international sporting celebration.
“We [are] working on every aspect of things to run off this historic tournament in Guyana; the preparations are well underway and we are ready to welcome the world to beautiful, undiscovered Guyana,” Singh said.
The 16-team field has been divided into two groups, setting up a round-robin battle that will test the depth and consistency of some of the world’s strongest masters cricket programs.
World champions, former stars and global rivals
Group A features defending champions South Africa alongside Canada, Namibia, West Indies, Wales, Australia, Colombia and Sri Lanka.
Group B consists of New Zealand, Scotland, the United States, India, Pakistan, England, Rest of the World XI and Rest of the Caribbean XI.
Singh confirmed that every participating team has committed to the tournament, which is being staged in collaboration with the International Masters Cricket Council.
That confirmation, he said, provides further evidence that the event is gaining the momentum needed to become a landmark occasion for masters cricket.
“This will be a spectacle in Guyana; the teams are indeed ready to compete and create history at this Over-40s global event; we have put things in place to have a successful tournament and I am very confident of that,” Singh declared.
From a 2019 vision to a global event
The tournament also represents the continued development of an organization Singh helped establish.
He has served as the founder of the Cricket West Indies Masters Association since its formation in 2019, and the upcoming World Cup represents another significant milestone in the growth of Over-40s cricket.
Speaking with host and veteran cricket commentator Andrew Mason, Singh predicted that spectators will have plenty to anticipate from the opening delivery.
The competition, he said, should be exciting “from ball-one,” with a number of former international stars expected to take the field for their respective countries.
That blend of experience, national pride and competitive cricket is expected to provide the tournament with an appeal extending well beyond the usual masters-cricket audience.
Guyana welcomes the cricket world
Adding further prestige to the occasion, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, has agreed to serve as Patron of the World Cup.
With the participating nations confirmed, venues identified and preparations advancing, Singh believes Guyana is positioning itself for an event that could leave a lasting mark on masters cricket.
When the first matches begin on October 17, the tournament will not simply bring together 16 teams of Over-40 players. It will bring former rivals, international names and generations of cricketing experience together in a country eager to showcase itself on the global sporting stage.
And for Singh, the objective is clear: make history while giving the world a memorable introduction to Guyana.
