Dear Editor,
The GT&T 10/10 Softball cricket competition continues to live up to its hype by being entertaining and exciting. With as many teams registered, inclusive of both genders, GT&T has undoubtedly found a winning formula for demonstrating its corporate commitment to citizens.
What GT&T needs to monitor closely is the coordination of the competition countrywide, particularly in rural areas. The Competitions Committee of the Guyana Softball League (GSL) has been entrusted with this responsibility, but some members of this body are falling prey to prejudices and teams are feeling victimized. This is where GT&T needs to directly supervise.
In Essequibo, the Cotton Field Wild Oats, a team that qualified for last year’s quarter finals, is deeply demoralized following their encounter with Affiance Storm. That game ended in controversy due to discrepant scorecards: Affiance showed that Cotton Field had scored 84 runs chasing 85 for victory, whereas Cotton Field proved it made 86 thereby winning the match. The Essequibo representative of the GSL, after heated exchanges with members of the Cotton Field team, consulted with her Georgetown counterpart, ruled the game a tie, and threatened disqualification if the teams did not replay the entire match. The GSL coordinator has since held a hearing and imposed a fine of $5000 on the captain of the Cotton Field team, citing abusive remarks made on the day of the original game.
These incidents are significant in the context of rules the GSL has prescribed. One such rule recommends that all protests will need to be submitted “in writing (triplicate) within twenty four hours after the match and a hearing will be held.” To date, only a verbal protest has been lodged by the Affiance Storm, and the only hearing held has been the one which decided the fine enforced on the captain of Cotton Field Wild Oats. Yet another rule recommends a superover in the event of a tied match, but these two coordinators have ruled that the entire game will be replayed.
The Cotton Field team, or any team, will understandably be deflated by what seems to be arbitrary, discriminatory administration of the rules of the tournament. Coordinators and administrators are expected to be impartial and rational, not partisan and autocratic. When the latter prevails, personal egos may be inflated, but the reputation of the corporate sponsors becomes tarnished.
GT&T is undeniably committed to success, fairness and professionalism. Perhaps the Guyana Softball League would like to remind its coordinators, especially in areas like Essequibo, to adopt same.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
