The countdown is on for the second edition of the IMC Over 40’s Cricket World Cup, an international masters cricket tournament that will bring together 16 competing teams from across the globe to host nation Guyana between October 17 and 31. Defending title holders South Africa top the lineup of participants, with the tournament set to deliver 72 riveting matches spread across 15 days of competitive play.
In a notable twist for the regional host, the West Indies will field two separate squads for the tournament – a core first team featuring a roster of high-profile former international stars, and a second additional entry named Rest of the Caribbean. Raj Singh, who holds dual roles as Tournament Director and Chairman of the Cricket West Indies Masters Association, shared that final organizational preparations are advancing steadily toward the opening kickoff.
Unlike many elite professional cricket tournaments backed by large governing body funding, this masters competition operates on a unique self-funded model. Singh explained that every participating nation covers its own core costs, including player and staff airfare, hotel accommodation, and mandatory team registration fees. While the participating teams bear these primary expenses, the host association has worked to secure local sponsorship support to cover on-the-ground tournament infrastructure, and additional backing has come from the highest levels of Guyana’s government.
Guyanese President Irfan Ali has signed on as the official patron of the 2024 tournament, and has committed to hosting both the opening and closing ceremonial events at official state venues. Beyond ceremonial support, Ali’s administration has also pledged to provide critical public services for the duration of the competition, including coordinated security arrangements, team transportation between venues and accommodations, and fully staffed emergency and on-site medical support to safeguard players and spectators.
Singh has already teased the star-studded lineup of the first West Indies squad, which counts former international standouts among its ranks: former West Indies batting mainstay Ramnaresh Sarwan, ex-wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin, fast bowler Llendl Simmonds, all-rounder Raayad Emrit, and top-order batter Jason Mohammed. “We expect a really good performance from the team,” Singh said of the home side’s prospects.
Full squad lists for all 16 participating teams have not yet been released to the public, but organizing officials are working to finalize all broadcast arrangements to ensure cricket fans around the world can follow the action. Discussions are ongoing with multiple regional broadcast networks to secure live and highlights coverage, bringing the over-40 masters cricket action to audiences across the Caribbean and beyond.