Dear Editor,
Permit me space in your newspaper to respond to a letter penned by Elroy Stephney, in your Wednesday, December 30 edition, under the heading “Government must intervene to restore credibility to GCB.’
It appears as if Mr Stephney conveniently left out of his letter that he was a member of the PPP/C Interim Management Committee which disrupted cricket in Guyana. He also conveniently did not mention the unprecedented success Guyana has achieved in Regional cricket over the past two years. What is even more interesting is that the same cricket administrators he described as “toothless tigers” are responsible for this success. I wish to let Mr Stephney know that it takes a lot of toil, dedication and a strong will to bring back Guyana’s cricket on top. I find it ironic that he is suddenly so concerned about the development of cricket. Editor, these people are only concerned about power; they want to be in control.
The GCB’s success is second to none over the past two years. The National U-15 has won back to back, something I believe Mr Stephney is not too pleased about since he was once the Manager of National U-15 teams which performed miserably. The National U-19 team won back-to-back in the 50-overs and also won the U-19 3-Day in 2014; it was not played this year so as to accommodate more 50-overs matches for the U-19 World Cup.
The senior men reached the final of the NAGICO Super50 in 2014 and won the WICB PCL 2014/15 4-Day. And they have won all five of their matches in the first leg of the 2015-16 season.
The same administration that Mr Stephney is begging to be kicked out of office has formed an Academy of 13 young players to feed the Guyana Jaguars franchise. They are paid and are in training four days a week. Guyana is the only territory where this is done and it is one of the reasons for our success.
I read with dismay that Mr Stephney is concerned that some of GCB’s administrators never held a bat. Firstly, that is not true, as they all played cricket at some point, and secondly, you don’t have to play a sport to be a successful administrator or decision-maker in relation to it. For example, the most successful West Indies captain is by far the most horrible cricket selector, and Mr Shashank Manohar, who is the successful President of BCCI and Chairman of the ICC is a professional lawyer, not a cricketer.
Mr Stephney also questioned GCB’s Cricket Development Committee. Let me inform him that this committee is functioning very effectively in the capable hands of our TDO, Mr Colin Stuart. He has compiled exciting programmes for the development of cricket. If Mr Stephney paid attention to the positives for a change, he would see them. And let me add that Mr Stuart held both bat and ball for West Indies.
The Cricket Administration Bill is filled with flaws. Maybe that is the reason why it has not been implemented as yet. I must say I am happy that Mr Stephney acknowledged that the Essequibo Cricket Board is legitimate. Essequibo has three representatives on the Executive Committee of the GCB and we are quite satisfied with the representation and help given by the GCB.
Editor, Mr. Stephney lives in another world. There have always been issues in sports organizations and it is safe to say there will continue to be such. But what is important is the product of these organizations. The GCB has done well in progressing after the past government crippled it.
Yours faithfully,
Andy Ramnarine
National U-15 Manager/Assistant
Coach
