Clive Lloyd, chairman of the government-established Interim Management Committee, yesterday defended the body’s decision to select a 30-man provisional squad to prepare for the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) regional four day competition which bowls off early next month.
On Tuesday, the IMC sent out a press release inviting 30 players to meet with the IMC at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street.
Simultaneously, the Guyana Cricket Board, which has been replaced by the IMC, also sent out a press release identifying 31 players to make themselves available for the upcoming regional tournament.
Lloyd yesterday stuck to his guns declaring that the IMC simply had the nation’s cricket at heart.
“…it is just to speak to players and let them know the situation and put them at ease; and then they have practice sessions arranged and a practice game this weekend. The players are still the most important people here, whatever problems there might have, I think the players should play cricket.”
According to Lloyd, the decision to select the provisional squad was not an indication that the IMC had taken over the day-to-day operations of the GCB.
In fact, Lloyd stated that the IMC was merely doing its work while talks continue with the government and the WICB, who are still having dialogue over the impasse.
The WICB had stressed on more than one occasion, that they only recognize the current GCB executive headed by president Ramsey Ali.
The WICB is yet to pronounce on the latest development whereby both the IMC and the GCB have named separate squads for their upcoming tournament.
Contacted last evening by Stabroek Sport, a WICB source, reiterated that “the WICB’s position is clear that only the GCB can provide a team to play in WICB competitions.”
The source stated clearly that the “IMC team will not be accepted,” and indicated that should the stalemate continue between the GCB and IMC, Guyana’s opening game next week against the Leeward Islands will be moved from the Guyana National Stadium at Providence to another venue.
Barbados, who have drawn a bye in the first round, will replace Guyana and oppose the Leeward Islands, in their opening fixture.
The source said that Guyana will only be able to keep its match date if a GCB team is submitted.
Concerning yesterday’s meeting with the IMC, the WICB source stated that nothing was wrong with the players attending that meeting since that was their decision.
Crippling issues
Lloyd, yesterday acknowledged that there were crippling issues affecting cricket which must be settled.
However, he said that at no point should the players be affected by the administrative wrangling.
Guyana’s cricket has been plagued by many such instances of infighting for well over a year before Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, acting on a High Court ruling last August, set up the IMC last December which is headed by Lloyd.
Lloyd, who is considered one of the most successful West Indies captains, also said that he was unsure of the repercussions of the IMC’s decision in selecting a team
Thirty players, which form the provisional squad selected by the IMC, were asked to assemble at the Sport Ministry yesterday but according to reports, not all of the players showed up.
However, Mark Harper, who has been named coach of the team, Roderick Lovell, a former national fast bolwer and Kezqweyah Yisrael, a fitness trainer were there on behalf of the coaching staff.
Lloyd also informed that the issue of the GCB also naming a provisional squad will be “sorted out shortly.”
Meanwhile, asked to comment on whether the Guyana situation is similar to that of Sri Lanka, where that government had not trusted the board to handle the affairs of cricket, Lloyd said no.
He said that the GCB chief selector Rayon Griffith was notified but he said the he “wasn’t happy with the arrangement.”
“The other two selectors (Griffith and Adrian Amsterdam) were told the day before and they said that they would let us know in the morning. Mr. (Ravindranauth) Seeram turned up, the captain of the team (Ramnaresh Sarwan) turned up and Roger Harper (IMC’s Chief Selector) and the team was selected. It is not an IMC squad. It is people who are interested in cricket and I think nothing is wrong with that.
“If the two other selectors are not happy then probably they are not interested in cricket,” Lloyd ruminated.
Roger Harper, former West Indies player and coach, Sarwan and Seeram, former national coach selected the 30-man training squad it was disclosed.
Amsterdam, this publication learnt, had some work related business to attend to.
Lloyd reiterated that he is not happy with the state of Guyana’s cricket and reminded that if the GCB wants to see cricket thrive then all must work towards that purpose.
