Latest update February 8th, 2025 6:23 PM
Jul 18, 2016 Sports
Final should have be shifted to Providence – Coaches
By Sean Devers
Trinidad & Tobago with 12 points, dethroned Barbados, who beat Jamaica in last year’s final, when the WICB 2016 Women’s Super50 final at Everest in Georgetown was abandon at 14:25hrs yesterday because of heavy overnight rain.
The tournament, in which 12 of the 16 matches were completely washed out, ended in anticlimax due to soggy areas to the Eastern side of the ground, after the Umpires’ final inspection at 14:00hrs. This was despite blazing sun all day and a consorted effort by the ground staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that the fair size crowd which included both the national U-15 and U-19 teams and some of the others teams who played in six-team tournament, in which the Leewards made their debut.
Coach of Trinidad & Tobago Gerald Garcia and his Barbados counterpart Ezra Moseley, who played two Tests against England in 1990, lamented the lack of GCB Executives at the final adding that the local Board should have made preparations to switch the final to Providence since the CPL matches in Guyana were over.
“It’s very disappointing that the fixtures seemed to be set in stone even when it was becoming obvious that we were turning up to the same venues and not being able to play any cricket. The weather was bad even before the tournament began and the conditions, especially at Enterprise, were not good but we kept going back to the same grounds over and over again,” Garcia said.
The T&T Coach pointed out that the lack of cricket was very frustrating to the players especially the ‘new’ ones who were hoping to be seen by the Chairman of the WIBC selectors Courtney Browne and fellow selector Lockhart Sebastien who are in Guyana.
“This is also a developmental tournament and while I am happy that we won, I am not pleased how we won. The MVP of the (Regional U-19) tournament bowled only one over here. I feel this was the wrong time for Guyana to host this tournament if these were the only venues available in such a large country,” Garcia continued.
Garcia, who has traveled with T&T First-Class teams said that the t20 competition fixed for Providence should be played but stressed that t20 cricket is about balls while 50-over cricket is about overs so it sad that the 50-over format was ruined by rain.
“We had eight practice matches before coming here and were preparing all year for this and it seems that no apparent effort was made to shift the venue today (Yesterday) or have alternate days to cater for washout matches. This will not do Guyana’s image and their hosting of regional tournaments any good,” Garcia opined.
The teams also complained about the lack of Ambulances at match venues as is mandated by the WIBC but claimed they were informed that only one Ambulance was available and had to service all the games.
Merissa Aguilleira, the T&T Captain and former West Indies Skipper expressed mixed emotions at her team (which includes 10 players with West Indies experience) success.
“I am happy that God smiled on us but disappointed on the amount of cricket played. But in tournaments where rain is threatening it’s important that you win early,” said the 30-year-old Keeper who has 6 fifties and 83 dismissals from 89 ODIs for the West Indies
“The girls have all played in ‘bush’ cricket back home and would have wanted to play but the umpires had to follow the rules on dangerous ground conditions. You would not want to field on a ground where the underfoot is not stable and you get injured,” said Aguilleira, who has 52 dismissals from 79 t20 Internationals.
The Windwards in five matches finishing on eight points without bowling a ball and were the most hurt of the teams since they spent their own money to hold a one-week camp in Guyana which was spoilt by the adverse weather here.
The action now shifts to Providence from Thursday to Sunday where three t20 games will be played each day with the last one each day being played under lights.
Feb 08, 2025
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