Guyana’s school cricket landscape is set for a major transformation with the launch of the inaugural Beharry Group of Companies Schools’ Under-19 T20 League, a nationwide competition designed to strengthen grassroots cricket and nurture the next generation of talent.
The tournament, a collaborative initiative by the Beharry Group of Companies, the Ministry of Education, and the Petra Organisation, will bring together approximately 80 secondary-school teams from across the country, expected to become one of the largest school cricket competitions ever staged in Guyana.
The competition is scheduled to commence on June 13, 2026, with the opening fixture at the Queen’s College Ground, before expanding to venues across the country, from Moruca to Berbice and from Region Two to Wakenaam. Organisers deliberately moved the start date forward to maximise student participation before schools break for the July-August holiday period.
Speaking at the official launch, Malissa Sylvester, Group Chief Marketing Officer of the Beharry Group, highlighted the company’s longstanding commitment to national development and youth empowerment. She noted that sport plays a critical role in shaping character and instilling discipline, teamwork, leadership, resilience, and other life skills that extend far beyond the playing field.
Malissa Sylvester expressed confidence that the tournament would leave a lasting legacy for school cricket and provide young athletes with opportunities to develop their abilities in a structured, competitive environment.
Tournament Coordinator Azizi Christiani outlined the competition format, explaining that schools will first compete within eight geographic zones in a knockout phase. The zones include schools from every region of Guyana, ensuring broad national participation and equal opportunities for students in both urban and rural communities.
At the conclusion of the zonal playoffs, the eight champion schools will advance to the national stage. Teams will be ranked by Net Run Rate and divided into two groups of four, where they will compete in a round-robin format. The top teams from each group will then progress to a championship playoff system modelled on the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Under the playoff structure, the leading teams will contest a Qualifier for an automatic place in the final, while the losing side will have a second chance to qualify by facing the winner of an elimination match among the remaining top contenders.
Christiani acknowledged the contributions of former West Indies fast bowler Reon King, Cricket Development Officer Anthony D’Andrade, and former national cricketer and Minister in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, whose input helped shape the tournament’s framework.
The Ministry of Education has welcomed the initiative, viewing it as an important step towards integrating sport more deeply into student development. Education Officer Karishma Ramnauth emphasised the Ministry’s support for programmes that foster both academic and personal growth through organised sporting activities.
Organisers believe the league will not only enhance cricket development but also create pathways for talented young players to progress to higher levels of the game, thereby strengthening Guyanese cricket’s future for years to come.