Letter to the Sports Editor...This is Bullyism not Discipline

Letter to the Sports Editor…This is Bullyism not Discipline

Oct 08, 2013 Sports

Dear Sports Editor,
After reading in the daily newspapers of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) imposed ban on National U19 Cricketer Ricardo Adams; I feel compelled to support Elroy Stephney’s position that he should not have been banned given all the circumstances. This youngster’s rights and cricket future have been unfairly taken advantage of by a Board that obviously premeditated his demise, and does not seem to believe in the principle that the penalty must be commensurate with the crime. Evidently whatever the indiscretion of young Adams, the Tour committee imposed a penalty of some 50 push-ups.
Given the youngster’s claim of abdominal pains and diarrhoea, it is shocking to see that the tour management committee would prescribe a penalty of push ups without first seeking the advice of medical personnel, especially since only the youngster could say how he was feeling. Who would have been responsible if young Adams had complied and then collapsed?
On returning home the youngster was slapped with a ban by the Executive Body of the GCB, effectively preventing him from playing any cricket and from the right to appeal; a dastardly and devastating act!
I am told that the unfortunate youngster, who was selected to play for his county in the Senior Inter county Competition, was unceremoniously extricated from the team and dragged before the power-hungry committee to answer the charges.
It is evident the youngster could not withstand such bullyism, and would naturally feel, even if he is not told, that he must confess if he expects to continue playing cricket.
The fact that he was accompanied by a new member of the “position for votes” fraternity certainly did not help his case for the matter was already decided and the subservient Essequibo Board willingly accommodated the catastrophe.
What bothers me is that this Guyana Cricket Board seeks to impress that they are promoting discipline when they themselves continue to be indiscipline every day in every way, and are really practising bullyism.
1. Was the manager of our national team who could not account for 13 cell phones and 800US dollars during a practice match at Bourda disciplined?
2. Was the manager who abandoned the U15 player Tyndall at CJIA Timehri disciplined?
3. Was the manager who was accosted by a WICB official for improper dress of sandals and shorts while on tour with our youth team ever disciplined?
4. Was any member or individual sanctioned or disciplined for the many illegal and immoral infractions including violation of court orders/injunctions perpetrated over the last three (3) years?
While I do not subscribe to any form of indiscipline, it is my view that the penalty must relate directly to the crime and justice must be transparent and fair. The youngster should have been summoned long before he was selected to play for his county, accompanied by a competent person to appear before a disciplinary committee, whose findings would have been subject to an appeal (if so desired) to the Executive Committee. This is the common practice, bearing in mind the GCB’s responsibility to the development of our cricketers both Senior and Junior.
It is indeed amazing that this group of individuals posing as the GCB could hoodwink and out manoeuvre the Government, Opposition, Private Sector, Media, Church, Trade Unions and the general public for three years while Private Companies continue to sponsor their illegality without any question of accountability or requisite disclosures. Why has this pervasive lawlessness been allowed to manifest itself so deeply, thereby eroding the very fabric of our cricket?
Even as I write a so called Demerara Cricket Board has been operating, no one knows who they are; their constituent members do not have any relations with them yet they are allowed to acquire funds spend and organise lacklustre cricket matches, that have no positive impact on the development of our cricket, to the extent that we are finding it difficult to provide players for the WI cricket team.
This is a National disgrace, and I hope that the current parliamentary process brings sanity to our beloved game before all is lost.
Claude Raphael

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Letter to the Sports Editor…This is Bullyism not Discipline

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