ICC top man: Great job!
-- make noise
Guyana Chronicle
March 31, 2007
CHIEF Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Malcolm Speed, yesterday declared that Guyana delivered for Cricket World Cup (CWC), but called for the traditional Caribbean noise at the matches.
At a media conference at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, he congratulated Guyana for delivering the country’s part of CWC, saying the Providence site underwent an amazing transformation within two years.
“Your country has much to be proud of. You have built an outstanding cricket ground in a very short period of time. I first came here about two years ago and the cane fields had just been cleared and the playing surface had just been levelled. Nothing whatsoever had been built.”
Mr. Speed endorsed the assessment of CWC Venue Development Director, Donald Lockerbie, that Guyana had done an excellent job in preparing for the mega event, commending everyone involved with pulling it off.
The Chief Executive said the benefit for the region from CWC was that the Caribbean was placed before the world.
“When I told them that I was at the match in Guyana they said `Guyana looked great on television’. That’s a major benefit. They are seeing your country and what you can do here.”
He said he was looking forward to more outstanding cricket that would do justice to the “great work” that Guyana put in to be ready.
He called on musicians and merry-makers, who traditionally entertain crowds at Caribbean cricket matches, to ‘bring in the noise’ to the present World Cup.
“There is a protocol to allow musical items (into venues). We want the Caribbean atmosphere to be here.”
He pointed out that the security measures were common for major sporting events all around the world.
“We don’t seek to take the West Indian flavour out of it. We want to hear that noise. We want to hear that enthusiasm.”
England captain Michael Vaughn also called for the Caribbean and calypso culture at matches.
Persons can now carry conch shells, shak shaks and other instruments into the stadium with permission from the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Yesterday, Raghu’s Tassa & Taja Band were allowed in the stands, adding more local flavour to the venue.