-GCB holds press conference
After months of legal wrangling with the government, the Guyana Cricket Board held a press conference yesterday at the GCB Office, Regent Road, Bourda where Senior Selector Reon Griffith said he was confident that the best team was selected to represent Guyana at the upcoming Caribbean Twenty20 tournament.
The staging of the press conference puts further pressure on the government to explain where it stands now on the GCB. The government and its interim management committee have battled the GCB over the last year for control of the game in Guyana and saw bruising tactics including raids by police on the homes of GCB officials and lockouts from its headquarters. However, the GCB has been steadfastly supported by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) which says that it does not recognize the government’s interim body. Last week the WICB extended the deadline for the GCB to submit Guyana’s team for the region T20 tournament and this was subsequently done. The government has since not said anything about the team selection. Government’s interim body is headed by renowned, former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd but the WICB has not deflected from its support for the GCB.
Yesterday, Griffith said he did not have the opportunity to see all the players on the field, but said with what he has seen along with previous squad he was able to select the team.
President of the Demerara Cricket Board, Raj Singh in reading the GCB’s prepared statement said “the board is very pleased with the composition of this team which included a tremendous blend of experience and youth which greatly improves our chances of coming out on top. With the likes of (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul, (Ramnaresh) Sarwan, (Leon) Johnson and (Narsingh) Deonarine forming the core and the top and middle order and the bowling being led by the spin duo of skipper Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo, this Guyana team is expected to give a very good account of themselves. Exciting young fast bowler, Ronsford Beaton will add youth and energy to the attack which will also include hard-hitting batsmen Christopher Barnwell, Jonathan Foo, Steven Jacobs, Rajiv Ivan, wicketkeeper Derwin Christian and Trevon Griffith”.
Never faltered
According to Singh, the GCB has never faltered in the preparation of a national team to contest in any of the WICB regional tournaments despite all of the chaos that has been created in cricketing circles here.
Asked about the practice venues to be utilized in preparation for the team, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie said, “A coaching plan is being prepared by the coaching staff and they will be working at the indoor facility but alternate facilities will have to be sourced because of the weather conditions. Almost all of our matches and if not all our matches will be played in the night so I don’t know what kind of practice our boys will get in preparation for the matches. We have made formal request (for the stadium) but we are still awaiting the response”.
Practice matches are scheduled to start today through Saturday.
In addition Sanasie said he is concerned about Guyana’s ability to produce teams for the 50 overs and four-day competitions.
“I am hoping that Guyana does not miss those days and it is my hope that there can be some sort of accommodation or resolution so as to not cause any further discomfort to players”.
Asked if the GCB has received any response from Government on the selection and subsequent acceptance of the team by the WICB, Sanasie said no. According to Sanasie, a copy of the team was sent to the Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony before it was sent off to the WICB. There was no response.
This newspaper also failed in its bid to contact Anthony yesterday.
