Injustice being done to Upper Demerara Cricket Association must be rectified

Dear Editor,      

In the Monday, May 16th, edition of the Stabroek News, Mr. W.G Boston, in his letter entitled ‘Why the long delay in having free and fair elections for the GCB?’, highlighted a most pertinent issue. That issue pertains to the exclusion of the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA), from local cricket board tournaments. As a cricket enthusiast, I have often wondered why

I have never heard or read much about teams from the UDCA participating in local cricket tournaments and I’m sure that the same can be said for the Guyanese cricketing public.

Whatever its nefarious motives are for excluding the UDCA from the domestic cricket structure, the GCB should be ashamed of its actions and the callous cabal leading that body should be voted out forthwith. The GCB seems oblivious to the fact that its actions are stymieing the progress of the young cricketing talent that exists within region ten and in the long term, its actions will only be to the detriment of Guyana’s cricket. The Guyanese cricketing public is very knowledgeable and we all know that the GCB, should be saying its prayers and thanking God for the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), because it is the BCB that has been producing some of the country’s finest talent on a consistent basis. Not to be excluded, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), has also done an excellent job by creating innovative and well-structured tournaments, that keep unearthing new talent, while keeping the experienced players conditioned and match ready. These two entities have the best cricketing structures in Guyana and this is easily reflected in the composition of our national cricket team. Yet, the GCB wants all the plaudits that rightfully belong to those two cricketing bodies.

Had the UDCA been a fully functioning member of our domestic cricket structure, our national cricket teams (male and female) might have been regional Juggernauts in all three formats of the game. That hypothetical scenario could still become a reality, if the UDCA is brought back into the fold and the immensely talented youngsters under its charge, are given the chance to display their talent.

Thus, it is important that the GCB’s cabal be removed legally, via elections, so that the injustice that is being done to the UDCA, is rectified and incidents of this nature never occur again in our domestic cricket structure and culture.

Yours faithfully,

Ryan Carryl