The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) have both voiced their displeasure with the non-issuance of international retainer contracts to four local players.
The GCB issued a release yesterday while the county board had written on the topic on Thursday.
“GCB notes with great concern the information that Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd were not awarded International Retainer Contracts by the Cricket West Indies (CWI),” the GCB release stated.
“The GCB is also concerned with the non-award of an International Retainer Contract to Veerasammy Permaul,” the release added.
“The GCB is not aware and was not informed of the criteria used for the award of International Retainer Contracts nor were any reasons given for the non-award of International Retainer Contract to these four players,” the release continued.
“The non-award of International Retainer Contracts to these players by CWI is a matter of extreme concern to the GCB and to the Guyanese public and the GCB intends to fully investigate this matter.”
The GCB, the release stated has written CWI requesting a copy of the criteria which was used to award International Retainer Contracts as well as the report submitted by the selection panel on which the decision was made not to award International Retainer Contracts to Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd, and also to Veerasammy Permaul.
President of the GCB Bissoondyal Singh and vice-president of the board who is also the President of the BCB, Hilbert Foster are both CWI directors while CWI’s lead selector, Roger Harper is a special technocrat on cricket development of GCB.
Meanwhile, the BCB echoed similar statements.
“It is simply shocking that our country which has dominated the game at the four-day level over the last few year cannot have a single player on the list.”
The BCB requested CWI explain the non-selection of Berbicians, Hetmyer, Permaul and Shepherd.
“The BCB would like to register our support for our players and also to urge them to keep knocking at the door and we are confident that they would eventually get their deserved justice. The board would also like to urge our Directors on the CWI to register our displeasure to the board and to let the selection committee know that Guyanese deserve to [be] treated equally and with respect,” the release stated.
“The BCB stands with our players and wishes to reassure them that we would continue to stand by their sides and would work hard every day to not only develop the game but to make sure that our players are properly represented at all levels. Members of the public are also urged to support our players and to offer words of encouragement,” the release stated.
