13 Teams ready for GAIA T20

In its fifth year running, the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) T20 Tournament is set to bowl off next Tuesday and will see 13 teams vie for the coveted top spot as Barbados’ only International airport seeks to contribute to the nation’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

 

Playing at the Rices’ grounds in St. Philip, the 13 teams will separated into two zones. Competing in Zone A are Gem Stars, Stoute’s Car Rentals, Barbados Fire Service, Four Roads, GAIA Inc. ‘A’ and Coverley while in Zone B the teams are DHL, AB Stars, GAIA Inc. ‘B’, Harlington, Caribbean Aircraft Handling ‘CAH’ Ramp, CAH Personal Service Assistants (PSA) and GCG.

 

The teams represent some of the entities within GAIA and also community teams from areas close to the airport. This year the requirements for the teams have changed a bit and the teams are allowed to invite players to participate in the well-known night cricket tournament. These players can be from the local, regional or international level. The only stipulation is that at least five of the players must be staff from within the specified group or company. Included in some of the participating teams will be some female players.

 

The format will see the two games being played on each night of the tournament with first game slated to begin at 7 p.m. and 10p.m. There will be 36 preliminary games taking place over a span of 18 playing nights. Afterwards there will be the Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals. There will also be a third place playoff match between the two losing semi-finalists.

 

After the tournament players can expect to be awarded not only for winning on the field but also for personal achievements. Awards expected to be presented after the tournament are Player of the Match (Quarter Finals onwards), Player of the Series, Most Wickets, Most Catches and Most Runs. The trophies and awards that will be presented are due to the sponsorship of LIAT, Flow Barbados, Divi Southwinds and Mark's Auto Spares.

 

Noted as a very competitive tournament, first up will be DHL taking on AB Stars at 7:00p.m. with CAH PSA coming up against GCG in the second match of the night at 10 p.m. The scheduled opening ceremony for this Saturday has been postponed till just before the first game of the tournament on Tuesday.