Guyana is fully prepared and ready to host its leg of the Digicel 2011 Series between the West Indies and Pakistan from May 5-15, according to president of the GCB Chetram Singh.
The tickets were unveiled yesterday at the GCB Regent Road office and will go on sale from Monday.
Singh indicated that the organising team of the Board met with officials to discuss security and other matters that relate to the hosting of an event of this magnitude. There is also expected to be another meeting on Tuesday at 11:00 hours to discuss security matters at the Guyana National Stadium.
According to Singh, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Security Manager Paul Slowe will be assisting with these arrangements.
Singh told media operatives yesterday that both teams, along with umpires and match referees will be arriving in Guyana on May 3 at 14:35 hours on a chartered flight. According to Singh they will be accommodated at the Pegasus Hotel and from all indications security provisions have been made to ensure that all is well where the officials will be staying.
Singh also pointed out that the practice facilities will be the Everest Cricket Club and Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, and the Stadium. As it relates to the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda, which will be hosting the practice match between Pakistan and the President’s XI, vice-president of GCC Ramsey Ali said that most of the concerns that were raised were addressed.
He noted that the main scoreboard to the eastern end of the ground cannot be fixed in time for the match on May 8-9.
He stated that it will cost the club somewhere in the vicinity of $1M to repair the board. However, he also assured that everything else is in order, including the Rohan Kanhai stand where patrons, who will be allowed into the venue free of cost, will be seated.
Prices for the ODI on May 5 at the Guyana National Stadium will be $3000 for the green stand (south west), $2500 for the red stand (north west), $1500 for the orange stand (south east) and $1000 for the Grass Mound/Party Stand.
For the Test match from May 12-16 the green stand tickets will cost $1500 daily ($5600-season ticket), red, $1000 ($3800-season ticket), orange, $500 ($1800) and the mound goes at $500.
If the match goes until the last day patrons will be admitted free. Apart from that the organisers said that a portion of the Mound has been rented to a group of individuals for the Test match.