CRICKET-loving fans in the Ancient County of Berbice, who last Sunday thronged the Area ‘H’ ground in Rose Hall Town to witness an exciting and enthralling encounter in the final of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Busta ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament between Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets and Albion Cricket Club, saw controversy raise its head during the matchup.

A Clinton Pestano free hit was pulled to midwicket by Jonathan Foo, where Eon Hooper took the catch and fired his return to wicketkeeper Delbert Hicks.
Albion’s opening batsman Kandasammy Surujnarine appeared to be struggling to make his ground, when the ball struck his bat that appeared to be deliberately stretched out – an act that was deemed wilful by the umpires who, on appeal from the RHTGG players, ruled the batsman out, obstruction.
While the batsman (Surujnarine) walked away dejectedly, Foo was called in and many thought that was the end of the contest, until the organising club’s CEO/Secretary Hilbert Foster intervened and asked the umpires to reverse their decision so the match can continue.
I was present at the venue and was told by Foster, that Albion demanded that the four runs (after the ball ended in the boundary) be awarded to their team or they would not continue the contest, a request Foster acceded to, in the interest of the game.
Just last month, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) were engaged in an intense second division final, hosted under the auspices of the Roger Harper-led Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) and sponsored by the New Building Society.
In that match, one of DCC’s batsmen, Linden Lyght, was given out run-out while GCC felt it was the other batsman, Dennis Squires, who was out and following their protest to the umpires, got that decision to go in their favour.
In their act of protest, DCC conceded the match which was being witnessed by high-ranking officials of the sponsor and the GCA, along with other ardent cricket supporters, by walking out of the pavilion to their various dwelling places.
The end result saw Lyght being banned for 15 matches and Squires 10, while DCC were given a $15 000 fine by the GCA, after being charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Last Sunday’s final was being witnessed by the Managing Director Robert Selman and Marketing Director Shamiza Yadram of Guyana Beverage Company, along with the president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Keith Foster.
At the launching of the tournament, which was being hosted for the ninth successive year, with Selman already giving his consent to sponsor the said tournament next year, Hilbert Foster said “Cricketers playing the game in Berbice can consider themselves the most fortunate in the Caribbean and even the world, since the BCB has planned a record 25 tournaments for 2012 and early 2013.”
The BCB is known for stamping out insularity and indiscipline, something Albion and other clubs should be au fait with, and despite there being some bad blood – for reasons unknown – between the two clubs, the game should not be put at risk in such a manner.
Selman looked on eagerly to see the next step that would have been taken when the game was brought to a halt and the bright smile that was displayed on his face at the restart, signalled his satisfaction with the outcome, even though he charged the organisers to play next year’s final at a neutral venue.
Keith Foster noted that Berbice cricket is without doubt on the move and mentioned that three players from the Ancient County were currently on the West Indies team in Bangladesh, (Veerasammy Permaul made his debut in the ongoing first Test) to become Berbice’s latest Test cricketer.
There is no doubt that the BCB’s president’s words were facts, as there is no other county in Guyana which is currently playing cricket at all levels and while Sunday’s action by Albion and their manager may be viewed as minor by some, to many it was an ugly incident that should have never occurred.
This reporter spoke to a well-respected umpire who informed that once the umpire deemed an act deliberate by a batsman, he has the right to give the defaulting batsman his marching orders, as was evident last Sunday.
It is now left to be seen, what decision the Berbice Cricket Board, who sanctioned the tournament will take on the Albion Cricket Club, as the game was brought into disrepute from their action which was deemed unjustified..