WICB should get involved
Orin Davidson's eye on sport
In the aftermath of last Wednesday's sad episode of in discipline at the GCC ground Bourda, it is surprising to learn that only The Guyana Cricket Board and the Georgetown Cricket Club intend to investigate the disgusting end to the West Indies-Australia one-day international. Here was a situation where a result had to be changed because of the pitch invasion intruders, where cricketers escaped serious injury and where there was potential for big disaster, again by a set of disorderly individuals who are better suited for the football hooligan gangs of Europe, the post incident handling of the affair leaves much to be desired. Because of the invasion, West Indies were denied a victory they badly needed to boost their chances of winning the closely contested series, in the run up to the biggest tournament of all --World Cup next month. Steve Waugh, the Australian captain, considered one of the best batsmen in the world, was manhandled by the invaders and suffered a minor injury in the process while West Indies bowler Keith Arthurton was also on the receiving end from the trespassers and could easily have suffered serious injury. And because it is not the first occasion a Bourda crowd has cost West Indies a victory by disrupting a match, the incident assumes greater significance. Yet the West Indies Cricket Board's only response so far has been a limp apology for the crowd's behaviour and the subsequent repercussions. Instead of the GCB being allowed to investigate itself, the West Indies Cricket Board should have been the ones to probe the matter through an independent commission, as eventually it will be the WICB who will determine Bourda's future as an international cricket venue. There is no doubt the GCB will try its utmost to do a fair and comprehensive investigation, but in the circumstances it should be the WICB's job. As prime organisers of the match, the Guyana Cricket Board would have desired a more professional effort from the police ranks on duty. The burning question remains. Why was not the suspect areas from which the crowd invaded the field minutes before the final melee, not strengthened?. Instead GPF officers placed the cart before the horse by congregating themselves before the pavilion when it would have been better to prevent the invaders from getting onto the field in the first instance, by barricading the danger areas left of and in front of the Mound Stand. Professionalism is what was needed from our officers of the law in that instance. Although a major catastrophe was avoided in the stands, the GCB will have to take greater care to prevent overcrowding as was the case on Wednesday, in the future. The weight of spectators on the roof of the GBTI stand was a recipe for disaster. The roof could have easily caved in under the pressure and caused serious injuries and even death. A similar possibility presented itself in the Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs and Laparkan Stands which were also overloaded and could have crumbled into a sickening crash. It leaves one to conclude that persons were admitted into the stands without tickets and or that gate stormers were very successful in their endeavours to access the ground. Such situations could have been avoided had stronger security measures been implemented or had a professional ticketing firm been contracted to do the job of manning the gates. Because of a number of factors including constant television exposure, cricket is fast drawing increased numbers of followers in Guyana. It was mainly responsible for the 10,200 capacity at Bourda being wholly inadequate for the expanding market. Cricket is now very big and thus requires intensive planning and actual preparation. Much more finance will have to be expended for successful staging of future matches. These days the sport is played by professionals whose high class performances will always attract the crowds. It thus needs the level of resources that the organising of professional sports competition requires.
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