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CRICKET-LOVERS in Guyana, who were last month smiling at the news of the gentleman’s game being returned to these shores, will be disappointed, following an announcement by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) which states that the board is unable to host the Guyana leg of Pakistan’s tour to the Caribbean in July. This disclosure was made by Honorary Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, at its head office yesterday afternoon, who said the signing of the International Venue Agreement (IVA), granting access for the use of the Guyana National Stadium for the Pakistan versus West Indies Test encounter from July 16-20 this year was not done.
However, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony in an invited comment yesterday told Chronicle Sport he received the document which had some objectionable clauses that were identified to the members of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), who were left to make a response.
“We did receive a host venue agreement that had certain clauses which we found objectionable and spoke to the WICB about them in a letter. They advised us to send a letter stating that the Stadium is available for the Test match and we did so, outlining those clauses we found to be objectionable,” said Dr Anthony.
Dr Anthony said it is never his or the Government’s intention to stop cricket, this nation’s number one sport from being played, whether it is at the Regional or International level, but called on the WICB to straighten out the clauses they are objecting to in the IVA.
Meanwhile, Sanasie told his audience which included GCB Chairman of Selectors at both the Senior and Junior categories in Rayon Griffith and Nazimul Drepaul and members of the media fraternity, the WICB was awaiting confirmation from Minister Anthony, as it relates to Guyana hosting the contest along with the two regional first class matches.
“The GCB made requests for the use of the Stadium on specific dates including the two Regional 4-Day matches that Guyana would be contesting against Jamaica and Combined Campuses and Colleges and the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies and that was confirmed.
“However, the signing of the IVA between the WICB and Guyana was a prerequisite for the hosting of matches and this was not done up to the time of hosting this press conference and with the deadline set for midnight tonight, I must say that the GCB is prepared to be accommodating in this issue, with the interest of having cricket played in Guyana.”
However, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony in an invited comment yesterday told Chronicle Sport he received the document which had some objectionable clauses that were identified to the members of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), who were left to make a response.
“We did receive a host venue agreement that had certain clauses which we found objectionable and spoke to the WICB about them in a letter. They advised us to send a letter stating that the Stadium is available for the Test match and we did so, outlining those clauses we found to be objectionable,” said Dr Anthony.
Dr Anthony said it is never his or the Government’s intention to stop cricket, this nation’s number one sport from being played, whether it is at the Regional or International level, but called on the WICB to straighten out the clauses they are objecting to in the IVA.
Meanwhile, Sanasie told his audience which included GCB Chairman of Selectors at both the Senior and Junior categories in Rayon Griffith and Nazimul Drepaul and members of the media fraternity, the WICB was awaiting confirmation from Minister Anthony, as it relates to Guyana hosting the contest along with the two regional first class matches.
“The GCB made requests for the use of the Stadium on specific dates including the two Regional 4-Day matches that Guyana would be contesting against Jamaica and Combined Campuses and Colleges and the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies and that was confirmed.
“However, the signing of the IVA between the WICB and Guyana was a prerequisite for the hosting of matches and this was not done up to the time of hosting this press conference and with the deadline set for midnight tonight, I must say that the GCB is prepared to be accommodating in this issue, with the interest of having cricket played in Guyana.”
