WICB set to meet on Guyana fiascoBy STEPHON NICHOLAS Thursday, January 26 2012
THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Executive will hold a teleconference on Saturday in an attempt to find a much-needed resolution to the controversy which continues to affect cricket in Guyana.
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has been locked out of their premises since earlier this month with the government of Guyana appointing an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to manage the affairs of the sport in that country.
The decision has not gone down well with the GCB or WICB who have both expressed their dissatisfaction with the usurping of the GCB’s authority and have rejected all decisions made by the IMC.
Guyana almost did not take part in the recently concluded Caribbean Cup T20 tournament and it was only with the intervention and assistance of the WICB that they were able to field a team.
But the Caribbean Cup has come and gone and still no solution has been found. Tension has arguably intensified with GCB secretary Anand Sanasie writing the WICB president Dr Julian Hunte asking him to remove Clive Lloyd from his position as WICB Director.
Lloyd is at the heart of the controversy as he was appointed Chairman of the IMC.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, WICB Director Dr Allen Sammy said the WICB is keen on resolving the issue and getting cricket in Guyana back on track.
“The WICB is making every effort to find a solution. On Saturday we will be holding a teleconference to discuss it as well as an issue with Jamaica. I know TT have proposed that the parties take a softer approach. Both (the GCB and IMC) have been at each other and clearly that can’t continue. The players’ business must come first,” he said adamantly.
Meanwhile, the IMC continues to act in the capacity of the GCB and named a 30-man shortlist for the Regional Four-Day Tournament starting on February 3.
The IMC also named a squad to compete at the Caribbean Cup but it was rejected by the WICB who declared that the GCB is the only recognised body in charge of cricket in that country.
Questioned whether the WICB will again come to the aid of the GCB to ensure a team plays in the Four-Day Tournament if no comprise is forthcoming, Dr Sammy said the WICB will do what is necessary.
“What is most important is that players must be given an opportunity to play for their country and without any burden on their mind. They are playing to win for Guyana and to get on the West Indies team but the right environment must be there for that to happen,” he added.
The WICB Director noted that there is no provision for the WICB to accept decisions made by the IMC even though some might argue the aim of the IMC is to save cricket in Guyana.
The 30-man squad, captained by Ramnaresh Sarwan was asked by the IMC to report to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport office on Tuesday.
IMC squad: Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Rajendra Chandrika, Veerasammy Permaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Brandon Bess, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Totaram Bishun, Narsingh Deonarine, Amir Khan, Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Clinton Pestano, Christopher Barnwell, Raj Nanan, Royston Crandon, Eugene La Fleur, Gajanand Singh, Paul Wintz, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Keon Joseph, Derwin Christian, Zaheer Mohamed, Vishal Singh, Richard Ramdeen, Anthony Bramble and Shemroy Barrington.
