OLD KAI is still patiently awaiting the disclosure from the West Indies Cricket Board on what exactly it found so damning in the Cricket Administration Bill which led to its decision to withdraw the 3rd New Zealand vs West Indies test match from Guyana.Up to the time of putting together this article, there was absolutely no word from the WICB, bearing in mind that it had promised to make its concerns public after perusing the bill which was passed unanimously in the National Assembly of Guyana.
This was several weeks ago and still no word to date. What is taking so long, after all one would reasonably suspect that the WICB would have had sufficient information to have taken such drastic action? I would hate to think that they went ahead and withdrew the test match just on a whim and now they cannot find anything in the bill which would justify their action.
If this indeed is the case, it may explain why the WICB is taking so long to reveal its concerns. It would mean that they not only denied the Guyanese cricketing public a test match, but also denied our nation the economic benefits which would naturally accrue from such events. After all this is how they marketed the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
They had encouraged governments across the Region to invest in modern cricket facilities under a ‘legacy’ marketing theme with the intention that these investments will justify themselves in the years after the tournament.
Guyana was one of the few countries that built an entirely new cricket stadium, and while the facility has now become the number one multi-purpose venue for both local and international events, the WICB has apparently abandoned its ‘legacy’ principle. By taking away a test match from Guyana and the resulting revenue influx and economic boost, it is rather making it more difficult for the authorities in repaying the loan it took from the Indian Government to realise the facility.
The very WICB had no qualms in engaging the Government during that period, including working closely with the Guyana Government to establish Local Organising Committees etc. but now it has found it convenient to say that Governments must have no part to play in the development of cricket in a nation.
This is the level of double standard being exhibited.
In turn, let us look at what the GCB has invested in the development of cricket in Guyana. The only facility which comes to mind is a hostel which was built under controversial circumstances. There were issues with the way the GCB accounted for monies spent on the facility and structural concerns. But even in that instance, it was the Government of Guyana, this very PPP/C administration, which they approached for assistance and intervention. The facility was constructed on a portion of land at the LBI Community Centre.
But now the very Government is made out to be the ‘bad guy’ by the GCB and WICB, all because it was approached by stakeholders and acted in good faith to ensure a framework of accountability and transparency to facilitate the effective management of cricket in Guyana via the Cricket Administration Bill which was only compiled after extensive consultation from all stakeholders, scrutinised in a special select committee of the National Assembly where all the political parties were involved, and then its eventual passage with 90% support from members in the house.
Yes, it is time for the WICB to answer the critical questions. It is time for them to justify their actions and failing to do so, Old Kai will not only encourage the Guyana Government to examine the possibility of taking the WICB before the CCJ to recoup projected losses by its unjustified actions, but also the entire Caribbean Cricketing public would most naturally expect a thorough investigation into the operations of the WICB and those behind this decision, and let the chips fall where they may.