Global Super League offers Desert Vipers an opportunity to spread GSL message

In late July 2026, the third edition of the grandiosely named Global Super League is scheduled to take place in Guyana. It is an invitational league, formally titled the ExxonMobil Guyana GSLT20, after its sponsor.

It is organized by Cricket West Indies and chaired by Sir Clive Lloyd, a Guyanese, who played for the West Indies with distinction between 1966 and 1985, captaining the team during a period of dominance from 1974 until 1985. In addition to Lloyd, Guyana has produced outstanding cricketers for the West Indies team, but its national team plays only inter-regional cricket. So the choice of Guyana for a global league appears, at first sight, to be an unusual one.

In May 2015, ExxonMobil announced the discovery of significant oil reserves off Guyana’s coast. The first draw was made in 2019 and Guyana has become the world’s fastest growing economy. Its government is aware of the risks of being too over-reliant on oil and has invested in diversifying the economy. One strand of this policy is to become a sporting and tourist destination, tapping into a long-standing passion for cricket.

The GSL reflects the country’s ambition. Reportedly, the tournament had a prize pot of $1 million in 2024. There have been several failed attempts to bring together the winners of the various franchise leagues. In cricket’s crowded calendar, this will always be difficult. Furthermore, it appears that those who manage the franchise leagues do not talk with each other, preferring to maintain an air of competitive rivalry. Perhaps the GSL initiative provides opportunities for inter franchise discussions.

The inaugural GSL was played between Nov. 26 and Dec. 7, 2024, involving five teams from different parts of the world. The basis