The Future of the National Game is being placed at risk

Jan 24, 2009 Sports

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Dear Sir,
Those who stand in opposition to Chetram Singh retaining his position as President of the Guyana Cricket Board have gone very public in an orchestrated campaign to reduce his chances.
Early in the month, ‘Cricket Observer,’ in a letter published in Kaieteur News, asked “Why must Singh be returned as G.C.B. head after 18 years as President?”
“Surely, ‘the writer says, “18 years is too long for any sports administrator to be at the head as, over a period of time, the vision, the hunger and commitment go.” No one would dare doubt that.
We in Guyana have spectacular examples of sports administrators, who have held on to leadership for too long, and, in the process, have become dictatorial and subsequently have done damage to the very sport they have claimed to love. They had grown stale and their passion had diminished.
But, I have been close enough to Chetty to recognize he still retains that interest, that passion.
The writer of the article says that the challenger, Mr Bish Panday, has proven to be a dynamic leader; although he does concede that Mr. Panday has been with the present board for as long as the outgoing President. I suppose there is no diminishing passion there. The writer hopes that the person with the best vision wins the presidency of the G.C.B. Another writer in Friday’s ‘Guyana Times’ knows that Mr. Panday has a plan and a vision….”
It’s beginning to resemble the political scenario in the U.S. leading up to the Presidential elections in November; years of proven experience against the calls for change and vision.
But in this G.C.B. scenario, this is no Obama calling for change. This is someone who has himself been there ‘forever’ on the board’s administration, and who, as the Secretary, has been an active supporter and often the proposer of the very policies he now seeks to criticize. He must help take responsibility and share whatever blame there is for the state of cricket in Guyana. No P.R. effort would distance him from it.
Vision must mean more than achieving the Presidency and sitting at the councils of the W.I.C.B.
This is nothing more than someone, who has been around for a long time, who feels that he must have a turn to satisfy narrow social interests. Nothing more; nothing less.
Uneasy, they say, is the head that wears the crown. And just as Chetty has experienced this, the challenger will be nervously looking around to see who in his new cabinet, would for the sake of personal ambition to be President, sabotage his programmes. We must be careful about collapsing structures and undermining confidence. It would be like trying to put Humpty Dumpty together again.
The question remains; “Why must Singh be returned as G.C.B. head after 18 years as President?”
There is something to be said for those years of experience and service.
Over the last weekend, the West Indies Cricket Board held one of its meetings in Guyana, and I had the opportunity to hear some of the Directors discussing the gaping hole that would be left at the W.I.C.B. level if Chetty demits office. They discussed how frequently, during the deliberations, the W.I.C.B. benefited from Chetram Singh’s institutional memory.
These were senior cricket executives who understand and appreciate the great value that someone like Chetram Singh brings to cricket administration.
That’s what he brings to the G.C.B. That’s what he is offering again on Sunday.
Those who criticize are demonstrating that they are really running out of reasons to dethrone him when they present as one of their arguments the fact that he enjoys the support of the President; the Minister of Sport and the Director of Sport. What Nonsense!  So What? Every Sports organisation in Guyana and, indeed, in the world would be glad for the assurance of support of Government.
That support they talk about has been earned by Chetty; earned as he has illustrated to them over the years his capacity and capability to give leadership and to spread the game across Guyana in such a way that the G.C.B. can today boast, among local organizations, of the strongest national network and, among other territories, of the most first class cricketing arenas in the Caribbean.
This man, with supposed diminishing hunger and commitment, just a few months ago was able to lead the successful hosting of the regional limited over tournament, when logistical arrangements had to be made for accommodation, meals, grounds, officials and other facilities, when, for the first time, as many as nine countries arrived here to participate.
Another writer feels that Chetram Singh is being forced to play the greatest innings of his career if he is returned to the helm of the sport locally.
In this innings, Chetty must seek no quarter from the fielding side. But he will expect that the umpires and match referee will ensure that the match is played within the rules governing this gentleman’s game. Alas, professionalism is already raising its ugly head.
Those who will cast their votes on Sunday have a serious responsibility. They have a massive obligation to the larger Guyanese cricketing public.
They must get it right.  The future of the national game is being placed at risk.
Yours sincerely
Analyst

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