GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Legendary West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd will head the operations of Guyana’s proposed cricket academy.

The announcement was recently made by Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports Charles Ramson Jr, with the 80-year-old Sir Clive expected to assume the principal role at the country’s premier cricket academy.

According to Ramson, the academy will be a state-of-the-art facility located on a 20-acre plot in Good Hope on the east coast of Demerara.

While hints about Sir Clive’s involvement were first made during a cricket gear distribution event last year, the minister confirmed that a formal contract with the cricketing legend will be finalised in the coming weeks.

“We have started clearing the area for the cricket academy at Good Hope.

“I am pleased to announce that Sir Clive Lloyd has agreed to take a leading role in the project’s execution and the operationalisation of the academy,” Ramson said.

“A contractual agreement will be finalised within the next week or two.”

Ramson said he strongly believed the country needed a cricket academy to help in the sport’s development.

“We believe it’s important to have a cricket academy here in Guyana because cricket is our leading sport.

“While sports in general have seen a decline in recent years, cricket has achieved considerable success. At present, we have more Guyanese players on the West Indies team than at almost any other time in history,” Ramson pointed out.