On Tuesday night, in Georgetown, the Global Super League (GSL), a groundbreaking T20 cricket tournament, made its first appearance in the cricket world with Guyana Amazon Warriors winning the first match against Lahore Qalandars. It has aimed to become a modern-day replacement for the defunct Champions League T20 (CLT20) and will feature five teams: Hampshire, Lahore Qalandars, Rangpur Riders, Victoria, and the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Fun fact: none of the teams are current champions in the respective leagues. An eleven-day tournament will play 10 matches and will conclude with a floodlit final at Providence Stadium. With ExxonMobil as the title sponsor, the GSL showcases Guyana's aspirations to position itself as a hub for sports tourism. This ambition is fueled by the nation's economic boom, following the discovery of significant oil reserves by ExxonMobil nine years ago. The GSL Chairman, the legendary Clive Lloyd, has emphasised the potential of the tournament, saying, "Guyana is the place to be. There’s a lot in store for cricket and the country's growth." Support from the Guyana Government President Mohammad Irfan Ali proposed the tournament earlier this year and has unveiled the tournament's trophy with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the later's visit to Guyana. Read: Global Super League to Feature 5 Teams Including Warriors, Qalandars The Guyanese government has made huge investments in sports infrastructure, aiming to promote the country as a destination for sports tourism, putting cricket as a leader for that. The government is planning to work with new facilities under construction. Llyod is hopeful that, by the second season, the second cricket venue will be ready in the Berbice region. Bobby Ramroop, owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, is a key figure behind the league, further strengthening its foundation. However, the GSL has faced criticism from environmental activists accusing it of "sportswashing" due to its association with the oil industry. Organizers counter that the league will boost tourism, helping diversify Guyana’s economy Guyana's Gamble The tournament has assigned a prize of 1 million dollars for the winner. Amazon Warriors emerge as early favorites, as they have a strong home record and have key players like Gudakesh Motie. However, the other teams face player shortages, with Lahore Qalandars missing stars like Shaheen Afridi, while Hampshire and Rangpur Riders are without James Vince and Shakib Al Hasan, respectively With a focus on proving its concept, the GSL hopes to expand in 2025. Though the tournament lacks participation from IPL franchises, Clive Lloyd is optimistic about their future involvement.