CWI backs Guyana’s push for World Super League T20 Tourney

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced Guyana’s plans to launch a World Super League Twenty20 tournament, which he hopes will serve as a replacement to the now defunct Champions League T20.

Ali made the announcement during the April 25-26 CARICOM Regional Cricket Conference – Reinvigorating West Indies Cricket at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

If the vision of Ali and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) comes to life, the World Super League tournament will see Guyana hosting eight of the world’s best franchise teams in an exciting invitational competition.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave confirmed the receipt of a proposal from Guyana, and says CWI will now submit its own proposal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a view to hosting the inaugural edition of the World Super League.

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which will host the 12th edition of its tournament from Aug. 29 to Oct. 6, has given the go-ahead for the GCB and CWI in its quest to launch the World Super League.

“We’re working with the GCB to try and find a suitable window that works for both Guyana and West Indies cricket,” Grave said.

“The assumption, I think, you can safely say it will feature the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The CPL has effectively given its blessing, which is one of the stipulations of their sanctioning agreement with us.”

“It obviously will require ICC sanctioning because it requires four or more international players. The view is for it to become an established event in our cricket ecosystem,” Grave continued.

“The intention in all the conversations we have had with Guyana has been around the Guyana Amazon Warriors, along with other invited T20 teams from the other franchise leagues, to come and play in this event,” Grave said.

“Whether it will actually be the winners of the respective tournaments, I don’t know at this stage. But that’s the intention. It’s something we will get behind and it will be great for not only Guyana but West Indies as well.”

Grave hopes the CWI can receive the all-clear from the ICC before the Amazon Warriors begin their CPL title defence in August.

Dr. Ali called for the “redefining of the eco-system of Cricket West Indies” and said the regional game should do all in its power to set itself apart from the world when it comes to the atmosphere and vibrancy, which is created at matches.