Indo-Guyanese support for India Cricket Team

Jul 14, 2024 Letters, Sports

Dear Editor,

There is one take away from the matches that India played not penned about by reporters and commentators. Guyanese cheered their home team (West Indies). The Indo-Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean people, and their Diasporas cheered India in the Cricket World Cup competition. The turnout for the semi-final at Providence was not as expected because it was a day match on a working day; ticket entrance was also beyond the pocket of most Guyanese.

People preferred to watch the game on cable TV that is now widely available around the globe as well as on social media (smart phone). The Indo-Guyanese who showed up at the match could be the seen cheering India against England (MCC). The feeling was the same in the Diaspora. Indo-Guyanese, and probably other ethnic Guyanese also, wanted India to win and it did not only that match but the final as well and all of the matches it played. India was the lone undefeated team in the tournament; South Africa was also undefeated going into the final. Indo-Guyanese historically supported India in all matches ever since India started playing test cricket over a century ago.

India’s performance has inspired Indians around the Diaspora and in all of its matches in America as well in the Caribbean. There was a huge Indian turnout not only from Asian Indians but Indo-Caribbeans as well in USA. There was a sell-out crowd in all of the matches in USA. The Florida match was also a sell-out but abandoned due to rain. Disappointed Indo-Caribbean fans overcrowded Guyanese and Trinidad Restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami that weekend. All the matches were great for business of Guyanese and other West Indian food outlets, bars, and clubs.

Indo-Guyanese and other Caribbean people followed closely the matches played by West Indies and India from around the globe. Asian Indians filled the stadiums where India played. The passionate Indian fan base, including Indo-Caribbeans, cheered India, an advantage not enjoyed by other teams. Indo-Caribbeans historically supported India and Pakistan in matches even against the West Indies. Sunil Gavaskar spoke fondly of his tours to Trinidad and Guyana; Indo-Trinis and Indo-Guyanese made him felt at home with their support from the stands and the ground. Vivian Richards also commented on Indo-Caribbean support for India in cricket matches. Indo-Caribbeans supported India in all of her matches gin back as long as one can remember from radio commentaries when TV was not around.

Indo-Caribbeans who did not make it as live spectators supported India on TV for every match; they wanted India to win. Even if West Indies was in the semi-final or final, in all likelihood Indo-Caribbeans would have supported India. One Indo-Caribbean parliamentarian in Trinidad publicly expressed a comment of pride that India won the final. Other Indian legislators expressed similar sentiments privately.

But there were divided loyalties of support among Indians and other groups. Almost every Indian American supported India. Some Indians supported USA and Canada. Indian Guyanese and Indian Trini supported India. South African Indians supported South Africa as opposed to India.

Almost every British Indian supported England. Indian Kiwis supported New Zealand. Indian Australians supported Australia. Indians from Oman supported their team. Ditto Indians from Uganda! Pakistani Americans supported Pakistan. Sri Lankan Americans supported their country’s team. Bangladeshi Americans supported Bangladesh. The small Bangladeshi community in Guyana supported Bangladesh and not the West Indies. Guyanese Canadians India (of all ethnicities supported Canada, an underdog in the tournament. Indo-Surinamese supported Holland while Asian Dutch (from India) supported India. Punjabis from Netherland supported Holland. Indians, including Punjabis from Ireland and Scotland, supported their national (adopted homeland) teams.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram

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competition, Guyana Human Rights Association, Guyanese, India Cricket Team, Vishnu Bisram

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