Two days after being told that they would no longer participate in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Twenty20 tournament and one day after learning that they would be replaced by a WICB `B’ team, the Amazon Conquerors as the national T20 team is known found themselves back in the competition.
At a press conference held yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Bourda, it was disclosed that the Amazon Conquerors will now be able to participate in the Caribbean Twenty/20 cricket tournament following a late decision by the WICB.
The Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) secretary Anand Sanasie had written the WICB on Wednesday informing the WICB of its inability to send a team after the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport had dissolved the GCB and replaced it with an Interim Management Committee.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport had also padlocked the offices of the GCB and this, the GCB had written to the WICB, had prevented them from being able to function properly which would have led to the team being able to participate in the tournament.
Yesterday the GCB representatives minus President Ramsey Ali said that the WICB had decided to take care of the expenses of the Guyana national team.
The go ahead was given by the WICB during a teleconference yesterday at midday.
According to Sanasie who chaired the press briefing, continuous pleas by the local board for the team’s participation were acknowledged by the parent association; resulting in the local team’s participation under the banner of the GCB.
Asked why they did not break the locks and enter their office, Sanasie said…“While we acknowledge that this is so due to advice from our legal operatives we rather pursue our legal options.”
He added:”We think that the IMC is illegal and we will stand by the ICC rules (International Cricket Council) which disapproves of government intervention in the running of cricket.
“We are also under the WICB and will work along with them as they advise us on the matter.
“I think the IMC has failed to realize that the running of cricket is broad, we have coaches to pay, everyday staff to pay, what happens to them at the end of the day?” Sanasie asked.
Guyana T20 captain Christopher Barnwell, who was also present at yesterday’s briefing, said he was optimistic that Guyana can still make an impact in the tournament despite all the confusion.
“Well the fellas had a good start to the training camp and were beginning to gel really nice before everything happened but I think the fellas are really eager to play.
He added:”Some of us who were to represent the West Indies ‘B’, I’m sure they are happy now since playing for Guyana would have been their first choice,” Barnwell added.
The Guyana National squad is expected to leave for Antigua today at noon.
