Guyana will host international cricket next year - GCB president
by Frederick Halley
GUYANA will definitely host international cricket next year but the form or dates are not certain as yet. This assurance was given yesterday by Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) president Chetram Singh following fears that Guyana may have been `blacklisted' from the international scene after the disgraceful crowd invasion in the dying moments of the fifth One-day international between the West Indies and Australia at Bourda on April 21 last. New Zealand are due to tour the West Indies in March/April to play two Test matches while Pakistan are due in May, also for two Tests. And for the first time in the West Indies, a triangular One-day series involving West Indies, New Zealand and Pakistan will be held. The two top teams will contest a three-match final regardless if the first two matches decide the winner of the series. Just back from the West Indies Cricket Board annual general meeting, held in Antigua from May 7-9, Singh explained at yesterday's press conference at the GCB office, Regent Road, Georgetown, that the general consensus at the meeting was that security needed to be improved at all the venues in the West Indies and not only in Guyana. Singh said that incidents in Jamaica, when Australian spectators mobbed Steve Waugh after he completed a century, the Bourda invasion and the bottle-throwing incident at the Kensington Oval in Barbados have done immeasurable damage to the reputation of cricket in the West Indies. The GCB head acknowledged that there has got to be great improvement in the security at Bourda in order to allow for a continuity of international matches. Among the measures to be taken by the GCB are the building of higher fences and ensuring that the inner walls are stronger by concreting the bottom and galvanising the top. Singh said the question of security also played a major part at the WICB meeting and discussions focused on what should be done for improvement, taking into consideration West Indies' bid to host the next World Cup. Asked if there was any truth in rumours that tickets were oversold for the April 21 One-day international at Bourda, Singh said there was absolutely no truth in that. The GCB president pointed out that there was blatant forced gate entry, thus causing the overcrowding of stands. He also disclosed that "unconfirmed reports" stated that some gatemen were also collecting cash from spectators to enter the stands. Singh said the GCB is looking at the possibility of not issuing exits in the future as this was also posing a problem. This will however entail the sprucing up of toilet facilities and having more persons selling food. Another area looked at, Singh said, was having the gatemen work shifts instead of having them work the long laborious hours. 
|