Welcoming the CPL to Guyana

guyana chronicle editorial

THE Caribbean Premier League T20 cricket competition is arriving in Guyana. We join in welcoming the cricketers to our country. Guyanese have been among the most passionate and knowledgeable fans of the game. It is one of the few countries in the Region where crowds have continued to support the West Indies team despite its dismal showing over the last two decades. We are the country that gave West Indies and the world some of the very special talents in the history of the game. From Gibbs and Kanhai to Kallicharran and Fredericks, to Hooper and Chanderpaul to Lloyd and Sarwan, to Harper and Croft, we have watered the cricket ground with some of the best. This year’s T20 comes to Guyana when part of the country is still in celebratory mood following the recent change in Government. Hopefully, some of that celebration would be extended to the stands as fans rally behind the Amazon Warriors, in particular. The Warriors have not had a great time in the tournament thus far, but one hopes that with the home crowd behind them, they would lift their game and warm the hearts of the Guyanese fans. If the first two editions are anything to go by, the crowds will flock the Providence Stadium. This shortest version of the game has captured the attention of the cricket world. In an era of instant gratification, it is just what the doctor orders. As batsmen power the ball to all parts of the ground, the crowds will go crazy with excitement, especially if the local franchise does well. There is a lot of money for the players in the CPL and other T20 tournaments across the world. The patrons are prepared to pay big bucks to watch T20 games. Sponsors are generous in their sponsorships. Even Governments have become part of the action by helping to subsidise the tournament. The understanding is that it is an economic investment that could bring benefits to several sectors. The benefit for the cricketers is a good thing. Cricket had for a long time been the poor man of professional sport. Not so anymore. Out top cricketers are now among the highest paid in the world. When one considers that the West Indies is among the poorest nations in the cricketing world, the avenue for socio-economic mobility afforded by the T20 craze can only be a positive development. In addition to the above, the fans get to see cricketers from all over the world playing together in the same team. For us in the Caribbean, this is a positive development that could help to minimise the insularity that has always lurked just below the surface of West Indies cricket culture, especially when the team is not doing well. To see Guyanese rooting for Narine and Barbadians shouting for Pollard and St Lucians embracing Roach and Edwards can only be good for Caribbean integration. Finally, one hopes that our small business people, particularly small vendors, are able to benefit from the tournament. Often they are the forgotten ones when we talk about who benefits. If they are needed to shout and urge the cricketers on, they should also be facilitated to benefit economically.