Photo Credit: Cricket West Indies
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy
If you plan to be at the state-of-the-art multipurpose stadium named eponymously after the record-breaking cricketer Brian Charles Lara, get ready for “mas in de oval again”. The vibrance of Carnival Cricket will unfold in the Caribbean’s greatest Carnival nation.
“Tension in de oval! Islands have runs to make. Trinidad have wickets to take! Tension in de place like steel. If islands win, they get the shield.”
Those are the words of legendary Trinidadian comedian Paul Keens Douglas recounting the exploits of his character Tanti Merle, who throughout the Caribbean became synonymous with the spirit and passionate nature of Caribbean cricket fans.
Anticipate at least a 50-minute drive from Port of Spain to San Fernando. Don’t be late like Tanti Merle. Plan your journey and pack everything you’ll need. Like Trinidad’s culture, the food and its people are rich with an undeniable uniqueness and spicy flavour. Expect an energetic crowd and be ready to say “I was there!”.
Brian Lara’s accomplishments on the pitch inspired both his peers and a new generation of cricketers to excellence – cementing him in the history books as one of the greatest batsmen to have played the game. Since its completion in 2017, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy has positioned itself as a world-class venue and the ideal training facility for future game-defining cricketers.
The Guyana National Stadium
The Guyana National Stadium is located in the East Coast town of Providence, almost four miles from the capital Georgetown. Built to host matches in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2007, the 13,000-capacity stadium became Guyana’s third international venue after Bourda in the capital city of Georgetown and Albion Community Centre in Berbice.
The Providence stadium has hosted two Test matches – West Indies v Sri Lanka in 2008, and West Indies v Pakistan in 2011. Most of the international fixtures hosted have been One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals. In 2022 and 2023, the venue was selected for the finals of the Caribbean Premier League. During the 2023 final, the home team, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, won in front of a capacity crowd. The venue has also staged matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2010, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2018 and the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2022.
When planning your trip for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final in Guyana, know that Guyana is known for its many conservation sites, gardens and wildlife reserves perfect for the eco-traveler. For the foodies, cleanse your palette, then get ready for a ride of textures and flavours including Guyanese pepperpot, cook-up rice and for the vegetarians, metemgee – a local starch-heavy dish. Guyana awaits you. Get your tickets now.
