Dear Editor,
I was privileged to have represented Essequibo at senior inter-county cricket between 1995-2006 against the likes of the incomparable Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Clayton Lambert, Sudesh Dhaniram, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Reon King and Colin Stuart, etc. In those extremely testing and exhaustive times, cricket was well served both by the players and administrators. There were even appreciative crowds in attendance at each game. Pitches were also properly prepared and the outfield was always in immaculate condition. The administrators would address the players before the tournament began and issue a reminder of their expectations. The players were full of excitement and energy, ready to do battle not only for supremacy, but in order to be selected for the national team.
During the past four years inter-county cricket has been impotent mainly because of the tardiness with which preparations were made for the once prestigious tournament. Players also feel threatened by administrators even if defending their fundamental rights. This was evident given the unceremonious isolation of former Berbician and national player Richard Ramdeen, whose stance a few years ago was to adhere to the Berbice Cricket Board instead of a turbulent Guyana Cricket Board. It was a moral position he took, since the BCB had appealed for its players not to recognize the GCB because of its illegality. Ramdeen incidentally paid the ultimate price and was never selected again nationally, even though at the time he was one of the more promising opening batsmen in the country. The opening position presently still remains unresolved. It is these kinds of scenario that still exist since in some cases players cannot even play in a domestic match unless consent is given by the GCB.
During this year a local player and his teammates from the Pomeroon were unilaterally banned at the insistence of an executive of the GCB with the support of the ECB President for hosting a competition which the executive claimed was not sanctioned by the WICB. Incidentally cricket is virtually non-existent in the Pomeroon, yet any attempt to do something about this is met with consternation and even hostility from the authorities. Not surprisingly the ban was instituted at the time when the local player had mounted a challenge for the chairmanship of the Pomeroon Cricket Committee. This is the type of executive lawlessness and manipulation that has enveloped our domestic cricket. Additionally, in Essequibo the players are hastily informed only just before an inter-county tournament is held and they compete without any meaningful preparation and purpose. There are no trial matches to select the team. Instead a one-day competition is organized after which a team is selected for a four day competition.
Absolutely no serious consideration has been given to the state of cricket in Essequibo and quite worryingly the cricket hostel was never adequately utilized to benefit the advancement of the players, especially the juniors.
Inter-County cricket once again needs to be the primary tournament from which the national team is derived. As such a serious approach is needed so there are proper pitches, adequate preparation and distribution of matches across the country, definitive selection policies and corrective measures to rid the sport of dictatorial representatives. It is not business as usual, and unless there is a complete transformation within the near future, cricket generally will degenerate to its lowest ebb in Guyana. The signs are already ominous in the three counties with the Essequibo Cricket Board being dysfunctional and without a strategic plan and proven leadership; the Berbice Cricket Board continuing to derecognize the GCB on legal grounds and no constitutionally elected Demerara Cricket Board.
While the WICB is aware of this unacceptable and unstable state of affairs following the visit of the President and Vice President of the board to Guyana recently, it appears that they are unwilling to confront this monster that has been created within the GCB. I am therefore challenging all stakeholders of cricket in Guyana to remain steadfast in redefining and transforming cricket in every community, to ensure that inter-county cricket remains the pillar for the preservation of cricket in Guyana. In fact when a batsman can score a double century in a one-day inter-county match and create history, his feat ought to have been etched in the minds of the national selectors. Instead Essequibian Kevin Boodie has never received the recognition he deserves and there are many more cases of bewilderment regarding the selection policies of the GCB. Is this the pride of inter-county cricket?
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
