Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President Bissoondyal Singh has declared Guyana ready to host Pakistan next week.
In an invited comment yesterday, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) director said, “We are ready for the hosting of Pakistan. We are in line with everything so far.”
Pakistan is set to play world T20 champions West Indies in three T20Is on July 31, August 1 and 3 at the National Stadium, Providence.
Looking at the venue preparation, the GCB boss said that he was proud of the stadium’s condition. Singh said that the National Stadium was in perfect condition and he duly recognized the efforts of Stadium Manager and GCB vice-president, Azad Ibrahim in that regard.
The CWI Director contends that there was no pressure or nervousness on the GCB’s part with respect to the upcoming matches, since the majority of the executives have the experience to deal with such events.
Singh served as vice-president of the board as well as Deputy Operations Manager during the 2010 World Cup.
He also served as chairman of the Cricket Development Committee between 2009 and 2011.
Stabroek Sport understands that the Presidential Box has received a facelift while rehabilitation works were done at the Press Box, Main Pavilion and Operations Centre.
The National Stadium has hosted all three World Cups held in the Caribbean since it’s opening in 2007.
Some seven T20Is, 22 One Day Internationals and two Test matches have been played at the venue.
However, no match was played at the venue since 2019 when India toured the Caribbean prior to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic.
As time draws closer, Singh informed this publication that it is compulsory that everyone involved be fully vaccinated.
Measures have already been taken to ensure all ground staff, auxiliary staff, scorers, liaisons, gate staff and technical personnel have had both doses of the vaccines.
With respect to fans being allowed entry to witness the action live, Singh said that he could not give a definitive answer. “Ticket sales and fan admission is a government decision and the decision is a work in progress,” he said.
The stadium holds a 15,000 capacity. As has been the new norm for matches hosted in the Caribbean, some venues have allowed a fraction of the capacity and only fully vaccinated persons to witness live cricket.
