Dear Editor,
From all the information I have garnered over the past few weeks, should it be more accurate than not, I am left with some amount of bitterness at the manner in which the beholders of Guyana’s cricket have seemingly disposed of Neil McGarrell.
Though I have resisted until Guyana’s exit from the regional four-day tournament, I can no longer be silent. I believe it is time that the merits and/or demerits of McGarrell’s continuity in Guyana’s cricket as a player, be publicly, not ‘hush-hushedly’ discussed. We should do so frankly and forthrightly but with respect for the gentleman involved. Let not bitterness be our guide.
In the absence of a public declaration from the selectors, I do understand, from usually unimpeachable sources, that McGarrell was not selected to the Guyana squad for this year’s regional tournaments on account of the selectors not being satisfied with his fitness. It may be foolhardy for me to summarily dismiss such a position without investigation. However, I have also been reliably informed that McGarrell, though not free from those niggling injuries, was fit enough to be selected to the Guyana squad.
Having grown, over the years, to greatly respect the heart, dedication, skill, and resilience of McGarrell, I find it difficult to comprehend how the goodly selectors could happen upon the apparently callous removal of one of our finest spinners ever, for an untested youngster even though, in the end, he has not come through too badly.
It would be difficult to convince me that a 75% fit McGarrell can be thoughtfully, let alone easily replaced.
I have witnessed, from reasonably close quarters, McGarrell playing for club, county and country, not fully fit and in extreme pain but without flinching or shirking and regularly with great success.
It is not for fallacious reasons that he obtained the nickname ‘Beast’. His 235 regional wickets for Guyana should provide ample and further evidence in this regard. Anyone who is of the conviction that all of those 235 wickets were taken by a fully fit, injury-free McGarrell, can have my free pass to Never Never Land.
If ever there was a contest to determine a Guyanese cricketer whose commitment to the team can hardly be queried, McGarrell will surely have to come into serious reckoning. He is no shirker and from what I have observed and heard, it would appear as though there are enough of those to go around in the current Guyana cricket setup. Be that as it may though, there comes a time for every player, great and ordinary alike, to move on from the game. Further and more specifically, it is the prerogative of the selectors to determine, if, in their collective judgment, it is now time for McGarrell to bring his playing days for Guyana to a close. If that is so, then that is a decision we may argue against but, in the end, must respect. I am willing to acquiesce to the judgment of the selectors on this matter. I do, however, reserve my right, as a solitary fan and therefore a stakeholder of Guyana’s cricket, to object to the manner in which we conspire and force an unquestionable cricketing hero to leave the game.
The selectors must have greater respect for a Guyanese spinning legend. They must allow and afford him the decency of an honourable departure. The callousness meted out to McGarrell is not how we ought to be treating our fellow human beings. And it is certainly not the manner in which we should be treating a man who bowled his heart and fitness out for Guyana for the better part of a decade. Having secured a substantial boon from the Stanford Twenty20 Tournament, McGarrell does not need Guyana’s cricket with its measly wages and rough selection treatment. Had he not still had the fire in his belly and desire in his soul he would not have made himself available for selection. That he has turned up shows his intent and demonstrates where his heart is.
On the contrary, Guyana’s cricket needs his experience and expertise so that he may groom and nurture the likes of Veerasammy Permaul.
I issue a public plea to the selectors and to all concerned to ensure that the particular wrong of this cold treatment to McGarrell be righted in some sensible way. It would perhaps be fitting for the primary stakeholders to organize a celebratory banquet in honour of not only McGarrell but the other three contemporary spin legends – Mahendra Nagamootoo, Clyde Butts and Roger Harper.
Finally, I beseech those in authority to ensure that this unfortunate situation does not repeat itself in future. Our cricketers, regardless of their contributions to Guyana’s cricket deserve to be better treated.
Sincerely,
Imran Khan
Cricket Fan
