West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday wrote to the minister of sport of Guyana, Dr Frank Anthony, in response to a letter from the minister to the WICB on January 4.
WICB outlined to Dr Anthony that it strongly desires to have the Guyana team participate in the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament starting on Monday, January 9, in Antigua.
WICB informed the minister that it is in receipt of official correspondence from Guyana Cricket Board indicating that GCB cannot field a team for the Caribbean Twenty20 as a result of the logistical and administrative challenges imposed upon it by the Government of Guyana.
WICB also reiterated to the minister that the Guyana team can only be provided by the authorised body for the governance of cricket in Guyana – GCB – and not by any other entity (in his letter, Dr Anthony suggested that the IMC would provide a team to participate in the Caribbean Twenty20).
The WICB implored the Government of Guyana to allow GCB to access its offices and resources to allow it to be able to complete the process of fielding the Guyana team for the Caribbean Twenty20.
Should GCB continue to be in a position whereupon it is unable to provide a team for the Caribbean Twenty20, the WICB will: replace the Guyana team with a West Indies B team; and provide match payment to all players selected to the Guyana squad (who are not selected to the West Indies B team) as per the squad submitted to WICB by GCB.
These actions are proposed in an effort to protect, as far as is reasonable, the best interest of the selected Guyanese players so that they are not adversely affected financially from possible non-participation in the Caribbean Twenty20.
St. John’s Antigua- The West Indies B team will include players selected on the Guyana squad who have represented the West Indies or who are under consideration for future selection.
WICB is hopeful that this matter will be resolved in the best interest of the Guyanese cricketers, the fans of cricket in Guyana and the West Indies and the various stakeholders.
