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Everything in place at Bourda for warm-up game – says GCB President
The sun was out all day yesterday and the pumps were on standby on North Road as the water level around the GCC ground Bourda was very low and the outfield dry.
The authorities are leaving nothing to chance as a pump empties the drains around the world famous ground.
Since the construction of the Guyana National Stadium at Providence for the 2007 World Cup, Bourda, the venue for the first ever West Indies Test victory in 1930, has sunk into disrepair.
The last time an International match was staged at Bourda, West Indies, led by 93 from Guyanese Shiv Chanderpaul, amassed 333-6 off their 50 overs against Zimbabwe in 2006 to give the hosts an 82-run win.
The only Test venue in South America, Bourda has hosted 32 test matches and 13 ODIs from 1988 after five ODIs were held at Albion in Berbice up to 1985 including the first ever ODI in the West Indies against Pakistan in 1977.
Tomorrow Guyana and the touring Pakistan team are scheduled to play a warm up game ahead of the first two ODIs at the Stadium on Sunday and Tuesday and President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Drubahadur informed that everything was in place for the warm-up game.
He explained that the main worry at Bourda is rain on match day but added that the pitch was expected to be the typical flat track while a fast outfield is anticipated.
“The Roan Kamahi stand will be opened and admission is free. The Clive Lloyd stand has been replaced by a tarmac and if required, fans could be accommodated there,” Bahadur informed.
The GCB head added that if the weather is bad it would be on too short notice to swift the match and get another facility ready.
Bourda was opened in 1884 and the last of the 187 First-Class matches was contested in February 2011 when Guyana opposed the Leeward Islands.
According to the Bahadur the Providence ground is in tip top shape and fully ready for Sunday’s ODI. He added that ticket sales are going great and can be had from the GCB office on Regent Street.
“Pakistan, who arrived in Guyana on Monday night were supposed to have their first practice session at the Stadium yesterday.
He noted that the West Indies team were scheduled to arrive in Guyana on Friday but since the team failed to qualify for the Final of the Tri-Nation series they could arrive here earlier.
Bahadur opined that this was maybe the first time that a visiting team had arrived before the home team for a home series. The GCB top-man also informed that the Stadium was inspected yesterday by security personal.
The Guyana 14-member squad to face Pakistan tomorrow read: Veersammy Permaul (Captain), Christopher Barnwell (Vice-Captain), Trevon Griffith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Devendra Bishoo, Rajiv Ivan, Zaheer Mohamed, Paul Wintz, and Keon Joseph. (Sean Devers)
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