GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — West Indies were given a warm reception when they arrived here Monday evening to complete their final preparation for the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup which bowls off at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday.

The reigning World champions were hosted in a cocktail reception at the cultural Umana Yana venue which was attended by Guyana Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Director of Sport Christopher Jones, along with several other government officials.

West Indies face New Zealand in their final official ICC warm-up on Wednesday night before clashing with Bangladesh in their opening preliminary match two days later.

Dancers perform one of their cultural routines during the cocktail reception for West Indies Women.

The fixture will be one of 11 preliminary matches being staged at the National Stadium here and Nagamootoo said Guyana’s hosting of the tournament – the first ICC stand-alone women’s event – was a major turning point in sports for the country.

“When we talk about the glass ceiling, Guyana has not only touched it, we have in fact smashed it and I think that the T20 competition in Guyana featuring women’s teams would be amazing to all of us who would like to see the full empowerment of our women, not only in the arena of politics and administration but in the arena of sports and the arena of culture,” said Nagamootoo.

“Who better than women can send a message to the world that it is possible to live together, to work together, to play together and to become friends and partners rather than antagonists and confrontationists.”

West Indies will do battle in Group A alongside England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, while Group B comprises 2016 losing finalists Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland.

Holly Colvin, head of ICC Women’s Cricket, said the tournament would be a boost for the development of women’s cricket in Guyana

“We have a chance in Guyana to inspire young girls across the world to take up cricket and that could be playing on the pitch, it could be officiating, it could be coming to watch a game for the first time,” Colvin said.

“And I think it is a really exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to what the next two weeks have in store.”

The November 9-24 tournament will also see preliminary- round matches played at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia while the semi-finals and final are scheduled for the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua.