Somehow the word got around that the West Indies cricket team was on its way into Guyana and, as a result, hundreds of persons made their way to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri to get a glimpse of the host team’s arrival.
The team arrived at approximately 10:55 am yesterday to a truly West Indian welcome with Dubraj Drums Fusion creating the right atmosphere for the team by playing the region’s theme song ‘Rally round’ the West Indies’.
Perhaps what is needed is to rally behind, not around the team whose fortunes have plunged to two losses in their last two matches after racking up a three-match win streak leaving them in a must-win situation tomorrow when they take on Sri Lanka.
However, the current position of the team in the CWC 2007 tournament was no hindrance to fans yesterday as even more people lined the streets waving to the bus transporting the team to Georgetown.
Before being escorted to Georgetown, however, the team took time out to sign a few autographs and shake the hands of the CWC volunteers on the tarmac near the exit terminal of the airport before boarding the bus.
Media manager of the West Indies cricket team, Imran Khan, told Stabroek Sport that an official briefing was scheduled for noon today at the Providence Stadium.
“I am shaking, I feel like fainting,” one fan said as West Indian opening batsman, Christopher Gayle shook her hands and signed her cap.
Loud cheers erupted at the airport when Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels disembarked the Caribbean Airlines plane. Clearly they were among the favourites fans came to see at the CJIA.
Maybe for some local fans it is the only opportunity they will get to see the West Indies team live during CWC in Guyana. Many cricket enthusiasts have complained about ticket prices for the matches in Guyana which range from US$25 for the grass mound to US$100.
Tickets for the West Indies game against Sri Lanka tomorrow are almost sold out with only a few US$100 and US$90 tickets remaining.
