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FOUR FROM TEN EQUALS ZERO!

Jul 11, 2009 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

Guyana must once and for all bring an end to this eye pass. Guyana should refuse to have anything at all with next year’s 20/20 Cricket World Cup.
The International Cricket Council cannot simply decide that it will give us whatever it pleases. It has to consider our own interests and what this country bid for. The excuses about the weather and logistics simply are not convincing enough.
We did not bid for six first round matches. We bid for ten matches which would have included the semi-finals of the tournament. Instead, we are now being told that we have been allocated six matches, a significant reduction from what we expected. And most of the allotted matches are early round matches.
Since our bid was based on the presumption that we would get ten matches, including the semi-finals and since we are not now going to get what we bid for, then we have a strong case to announce that we are no longer interested in hosting any matches. It is either we get what we want or we get nothing. Four from ten equals zero!
This is totally unacceptable. What does the ICC really believe? Do they expect us to simply roll over and accept this nonsense?
On top of that, they issued a highly offensive response to our publicly aired concerns, claiming that we had limited accommodation. Well, if we have limited accommodation why is it that in 2007, they allocated Super Eight matches to Guyana? Why?
On top of this, they now want us to host the Opening Ceremony. Who is paying for this Opening Ceremony? I hope it is not Guyana because there is no way we should be spending a dime on this event unless we get some second round matches as well as at least one semi final.
Even if the ICC is footing the bill in respect to the Opening Ceremony, Guyana would have to bear some heavy costs in respect to indirect expenses, such as security and other administrative arrangements. The city will have to be beautified and other things put in place. We cannot be doing that if all we are going to get is a few first round matches.
The ICC must respect the position that what is at stake is more than just hosting a cricket match. This tournament is also about business and the benefits which are to be derived from the hosting of such a major tournament.
One of the benefits to countries is tourism. This is a spin-off benefit for countries hosting Cricket World Cup. Guyana was no doubt hoping that it would be able to tap into the droves of tourists which usually accompany their teams to these tournaments.
We lost out on Cricket World Cup 2007. The government lost money and more importantly, hundreds of Guyanese lost money after the two big names in the tournament got knocked out early.
Now with Guyana only being allocated six first-round matches and having to host the Opening Ceremony, Guyana is justified in being disappointed. This is all the more so when one considers the traditional support that local fans have always given to international matches hosted in Guyana.
There is no other country in the Caribbean where cricket is as much supported as that which occurs in Guyana.
The excuses made about weather and accommodation are simply not justified. Guyana has a fast-drying ground, has sufficient grounds to allow for practice, will pull large crowds regardless of who is playing and has far more accommodation than some of the other countries.
Guyana therefore has a right to feel short-changed by the allocation it has received. It should not however simply lay back and allow itself to be so shabbily treated.
It is time for the government and the cricket-adoring public to act. It is time for Guyana to inform the West Indies Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council that it will not be hosting the Opening Ceremony of the teams, since the weather is expected to be bad and we will not have enough accommodation for all the persons who will be descending for this event. We should also inform them that Guyana is not interested in hosting any first round matches and if we cannot have both semi finals, then we are not interested in hosting any matches.

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