Majority players disregard IMC’s request

By Rajiv Bisnauth 

Guyana’s cricket remains highly contentious and far from being resolved, after majority of the players from the 30-man provisional squad yesterday boycotted the call by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to make themselves available for immediate encampment ahead of the Regional Four- Day tournament.

The IMC, through a press release on Tuesday, had asked the 30 players shortlisted to assemble at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport headquarters at Main Street for 13: 00h yesterday. However, only six players from the squad turned up at the venue.

Those who acceded to the request were Leon Johnson, Shemroy Barrington, Vishal Singh, Derwin Christian, Steven Jacobs and Raj Nanan.

The move is a clear indication that some of the players have not recognized the IMC as the legitimate body, and have thrown their support behind the now defunct Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), which also released the names of their own 31- man squad on Tuesday afternoon.

The strained relationship between the GCB and the IMC could adversely affect Guyana’s participation in next month’s tournament, but Chairman of the IMC, Clive Lloyd, said he is unaware of any such repercussion at the level of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

“Well I don’t know; I think the relevant stakeholders will have to discuss that. At the moment we want to get our players to play for Guyana and go to the tournament,” the IMC Chairman noted.

The 67-year-old Lloyd, a former Guyana and West Indies captain, said whatever the issue at hand is, the players will always remain the most important people.

“The players should play the cricket- that is what they’re here for,” Lloyd added.

On the selection of the IMC squad, Lloyd said the GCB selectors are fully aware of the way forward.

The squad was selected by the new Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel, Roger Harper, skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ravindranauth Seeram, who is part of the GCB selection panel.

“So it is not an IMC thing; its people who’re interested in cricket, and I think nothing is wrong with that. If the other two GCB selectors were not happy to turn up, it is obviously they are not interested in cricket” the IMC Chairman noted.

Lloyd, who played 110 Test matches, admitted he is not satisfied with the current state of play in Guyana’s cricket. He said cricket for him is everything in life, and it is his desire to see the game being played properly without any distraction.

The West Indies legend further revealed that if the GCB is interested in cricket, they should be working for the betterment of the game.

“All that matters is the cricket and the cricketers; so let the cricket play” Lloyd stressed.

Lloyd reiterated that the IMC is not here to stay. The IMC is in place for a limited period of six months. During this period it would report on a monthly basis to the sport minister. Upon completion of its work, it will report on its major findings, make recommendations for the way forward and invite an authority with competence in electoral matters to hold elections for office bearers at both the regional and national levels.

The IMC was established in keeping with the Honourable Chief Justice Ian Chang decision on August 22 last that an IMC shall assume the administration of cricket nationally.

Meanwhile, some of the players who have opted to disregard the IMC’s request said that they are totally confused about the entire situation.

One player, who wishes to remain anonymous, told this publication that while he has been selected in both squads, he decided not to turn up at the Ministry’s headquarters yesterday because he is of the opinion that the players are being held hostage.

Another player, who also requested anonymity, revealed that the controversies that have engulfed Guyana’s cricket are a complete torture to the game.

Earlier this week, the IMC instituted several changes to the current cricket structure.

Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel, Rayon Griffith, and Head Coach of the senior national team, Ravindranauth Seeram, were among the top officials who were re- assigned to different posts.

Griffith was replaced by former West Indies Vicecaptain and coach Roger Harper, while former Bermuda national coach and former national head coach, Mark Harper, was re- appointed head coach of the senior national team.

Carl Moore has been reappointed Manager, taking over from David Black, who replaced him months ago.

Also added to the pool of selectors are Seeram and Hubern Evans.

Seeram has been appointed batting coach, while former Guyana medium- fast bowler Roderick Lovell, coach of the national female team Latchman Yadram and Orin Bailey have all been appointed assistant coaches. Head Coach Mark Harper, assistant coaches Orin Bailey and Roderick Lovell all turned up at the Sport Ministry office yesterday.

In next month’s tournament, Guyana will play the Leeward Islands from February 3- 6; Windward Islands from February 10- 13; Combined Campuses and Colleges from February 17-20; and Jamaica from February 24- 27 under lights at the National Stadium, before moving to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago for their two away matches on March 6- 12 and March 16- 19.

The semi- finals will be play between March 30 and April 2. The two- semi finals will be hosted by the two highest placed teams in the league rounds.

The final is set for April 7- 10 and will be hosted by the team in the final which placed higher in the league rounds.

The IMC squad, which was released to the media hours after the GCB named its 31- member squad, reads: Ramnaresh Sarwan (Captain), Davendra Bishoo, Rajendra Chandrika, Veerasammy Permaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Brandon Bess, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ransford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Totaram Bishun, Narsingh Deonarine, Amir Khan, Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Clinton Pestano, Christopher Barnwell, Raj Nanan, Royston Crandon, Eugene La Fleur, Gajanand Singh, Paul Wintz, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Keon Joseph, Derwin Christian, Zaheer Mohamed, Vishal Singh, Richard Ramdeen, Anthony Bramble and Shemroy Barrington.