The deadline given by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to indicate whether it will be able to host the first test match between the West Indies and Pakistan in July will be up today but no agreement has yet been reached among the WICB, the GCB and the government.
Pakistan is due here in July to play two test matches as part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP) and the WICB has tentatively scheduled the first test match to be played in Guyana from July 16-20.
Originally Pakistan was scheduled to play two test matches, five One-Day Internationals and a T20 game but a scheduled tour of Pakistan by India in August has resulted in the ODIs and the lone T20 game being deferred.
Secretary of the GCB Anand Sanasie last night told Stabroek Sport that the situation was in limbo because although the government had given approval for the dates requested by the GCB, it had not yet signed the International Venue Agreement (IVA) for the use of the Providence National Stadium.
“We received response by email from the Stadium Manager that the dates we asked for, for the Pakistan tour, the two four-day regional matches against Jamaica and the Combined Campuses and Colleges and the two one day matches against the same two teams, we received response that the dates are available,” Sanasie said.
However, he said that copies of the IVAs, given to Stadium manager Tony Xavier yesterday morning, had not yet been returned to the GCB.
“They have to sign three copies,” said Sanasie adding that the IVAs are to be signed by the GCB, the stadium authorities and the WICB.
Earlier this week the WICB in a press release stated that it had given the authorities here up until today to state whether they are in a position to host the test match.
The WICB also announced that Jamaica had been identified as an alternative venue in the event that Guyana was unable to stage the match.
“The West Indies Cricket Board has announced that it has given the Guyana Cricket Board a deadline of March 7 2013 to advise on its ability to host the West Indies v Pakistan First Test slated for July,” the WICB statement read.
The impasse between the government and the GCB arose following the GCB elections in 2011 when Ramsey Ali was elected president. A challenge to the legality of the election by a representative of the Berbice Cricket Board, led to a decision by the Court that the GCB was a legal non entity which could not sue or be sued.
This led the government, through the Ministry of Sport to institute proceedings to make the GCB a legal entity.
It set up an IMC headed by Clive Lloyd which was tasked with among other things arriving at a new constitution.
But the IMC ran into a hurdle when the WICB said it would continue to recognize the GCB as its shareholder, member and agent in Guyana.
Since then no regional or international match has been played in Guyana although national cricket teams selected by the GCB continue to participate in regional tournaments sanctioned by the WICB. The Pakistan test match offered an excellent opportunity for the two sides to come together in the interest of Guyana’s cricket but up to press time last night, Stabroek Sport was told that the IVAs had not yet been signed or if it had it had not yet been returned to them.
“What remains to happen is that the Stadium Authority, either the Minister or the Permanent Secretary has to sign the IVA in the case of the Pakistan tour. If we do not have an IVA signed we cannot inform the WICB that the GCB is prepared and ready to host the match. Once the government signs the IVA we are ready to host,” Sanasie said.
Meanwhile president of the Georgetown Cricket Club Lionel Jaikarran said yesterday that Bourda was prepared to stage the test match should the National Stadium at Providence be unavailable.
“As the oldest Cricket Club in the Caribbean(155 years old) and the home of many Guyanese cricket legends past and present and as part of it’s mandate to ensure the promotion of cricket, the Georgetown Cricket Club stands ready to make available the GCC ground, Bourda for the playing of the matches. The Georgetown Cricket Club hopes good sense prevails for the well being of cricket in Guyana,” said Jaikarran.
Asked for a comment on Jaikarran’s statement Sanasie said that Bourda could possibly be considered for the four-day and one-day games.
“We are wide open to those two matches being played there but the test match is another matter,” he said.