Dear Editor,
Munesh Dutt’s October 10 letter, “Unhappy with cricket commentary” published in the Stabroek News jolted me, as it evoked serious ‘cricket commentary’ issues that has been with me for some time now. Like the writer, I am upset about quite a few things, and I hope these will be addressed promptly.
First, as regards the commentary panel, I also have to ask why there is no Naim Chan, or at best, why is he only being used occasionally, and only in the junior competitions? Quite coincidentally, he was on for one of the Inter Country games yesterday, even as Dutt’s letter was published. This man, as Dutt puts it, is indeed “Guyana’s premiere radio cricket commentator, and he may even be so at the regional level”. I am testimony to his “His years of experience, pleasant radio voice, simplicity and correctness of language use and descriptive ability of live play.” In fact, Naim goes back to the 90s, when he was rubbing shoulders with his regional and international ‘buddies,’ covering One Day and Test cricket.
I even recall him and Mark Taylor at the old Guyana Broadcasting Corporation studios, in 1995 when the Aussies were here. In those days, he used to host the now non-existent riveting Friday night ‘Sporting Action Line’ programme. So, in terms of his ‘history of belonging’ and ‘naturalness’ for live coverage, especially with what obtains with the rest of our ‘tryers’ and struggling shouters,’ I find it quite odd and even suspicious, that he is not the one at the forefront, where he can be enjoyed as well as ‘lift the level’ of others. Editor, I do not know the details of how commentators are tried, trained and selected, but like Dutt, I am praying for requisite changes for betterment, at every level, not just in cricket commentary.
Then on the issue of Sport News, the reading is palpably terrible. It was never so, as back in those days of the 90s, the team at GBC, in 8-10 minutes, presented the 06:50 cast in an excellent and succinct package, that was comprehensive, and ‘beat others’ in terms of breaking news. Today, sports at NCN is more like ‘old news’ that I would have already read from the papers… even two days old. I ask where ‘pride’ in the job is. Where is the love for the job? Who helps the readers and writers? What system is in place to do the same? I hope for some early improvement.
Sincerely,
Joshua Melville