After months of speculation as to where the final of the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament will take place, it has been confirmed that Guyana will host the August 7, 2016 showpiece after outbidding Jamaica and two-time hosts Trinidad and Tobago.
Guyana’s Education Minister, who has responsibility for Sport, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine confirmed this on Tuesday evening, but did not elaborate.
“Yes, we have the finals,” said Dr Roopnaraine, who explained that he was in a meeting, but promised to provide further details soon.
Reports are that the Guyana Government had outdone the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica in a three-way bid to host the final.
Guyana will also host both semi-finals which will take place at the Providence Stadium as well.
It will be the first time that the final will be hosted in Guyana, having been hosted by T&T twice and once by St Kitts/Nevis.
While the games will not be played in the month of May, they are expected to be used as part of the activities to celebrate the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary which will climax on May 26, the date Guyana gained independence from Britain.
CPL 2016 is slated for June-July, and apart from the on-field action, the country’s economy is set to receive a massive boost, given the business and tourism potential that CPL has been able to realise in three short years.
Guyana Amazon Warriors have been among the success stories of CPL, having made it to the first two finals, narrowly losing to Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013 and suffering a controversial defeat to Barbados a year later.
In 2015, Guyana Amazon Warriors made it to the semi-finals, losing out to eventual champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.
The CPL since its creation in 2013 has created thousands of jobs across the Caribbean and generated millions of US dollars for the Region’s economy.
The tournament attracts some of the biggest names in T20 cricket around the world.
