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UNBELIEVABLE!
No local TV or radio coverage of historic 20/20 World CupBy Sean Devers
Unbelievable! Guyanese will be denied the opportunity of seeing history unfold today in South Africa when the Ramnaresh Sarwan led West Indies battle the hosts in the opening match of the first ever 20/20 World Cup because the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) cannot find the money to pay for the broadcast rights from the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

This newest, shortest and most exciting version of International cricket with millions of viewers around the world are getting ready to watch this pulsating spectacle unfold and NCN’s inability to provide TV images or even radio commentary of the event to a nation which won the inaugural Stanford regional 20/20 competition and its US$1 million first prize is worrying and suggest that changes are needed in the Marketing Department or even at Management level of a station which boast of being ‘the Nation’s Cricket Station’ but carry less live International matches than NTN.

This will be the regional team’s sixth 20/20 International after registering the competition’s only tie in their very first match in this ’slam-bang’ version against New Zealand last year and Sarwan, who led Guyana to the Stanford regional 20/20 glory in Antigua, gets to play his first International 20/20 as skipper.

Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul is in the best form of his life and if the Government is indeed serious about the development of sports in Guyana as they claim, then serious questions must be asked of those who run NCN by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr Frank Anthony.

This is not an isolated problem and it now seems the norm for last minute ‘begging’ when an international series approaches with maybe the hope that the President, as he has done before, will provide the money to acquire the rights for NCN.

Those that run NCN gives the impression that cricket is not important to Guyanese even as Government officials talk about unity through sport.

Permission is not being granted for the operation of another radio station, yet NCN’s management, did not deem it important to even have daily live reports on events like the recent regional Under-19 series recently held in St Kitts where Guyana were the defending champions.

This policy by the National radio and TV station is unfair to local cricket lovers and since a proposed launching of a ‘Cricket fund’ was never implemented one wonders if Government can really be satisfied with the way NCN is being run or if it does not matter that Guyanese are again being deprived of seeing their heroes in action.

The planning of cricket coverage by NCN is handled in a haphazard manner with little professionalism and it is time that those who contribute to the declining standard of cricket coverage at NCN, be made to take responsibility for their actions.

With two consecutive wins in their warm-up matches in a format arguably best suited for the flamboyant but inconsistent West Indians, the anticipation level is sky high among the local fans many of whom stayed at home to watch the pulsating action on NCN, during the Stanford competition.

Cricket is Guyana’s number one sport and with the likes of the belligerent Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and Marlon Samuels all with 20/20 International 50s under their belts and Guyana’s Chanderpaul in such great form, confidence is high that the West Indies, with Sarwan, Dwayne Smith and Dwayne Bravo also in their batting line-up, can at least reach the semi-finals.

Daren Powell produced the most economical 20/20 figures of 3-4 off four overs against New Zealand on Sunday while Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul have been spot-on with the new ball in recent matches in this format, plenty of entertainment and fireworks are expected in this showpiece of three hours of virtually non-stop action.

When contacted many business entities informed that they were never approached for sponsorship of the 20/20 World Cup. Martin Goolsarran, Programme Manager of NCN told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that once again, acquisition cost was the reason for Guyana ’s black-out of the biggest 20/20 tournament ever.

‘We (NCN) were engaged in extensive discussions with the rights holders for an affordable rate, but all of our offers were rejected, resulting in us not being able to bring the cricket,” Goolsarran said.

It is understood that the cost to get the rights from CMC was US$51,000 and it would have cost advertisers approximately $12,000 per spot.

Cricket, though not at the standard it used to be, is still the single most unifying factor in the West Indies and a very popular sport in areas that Government gets plenty of support from.

Dr Anthony seems to be genuinely interested in the development of youths and sports in Guyana , but if the attitude of NCN to disregard the needs of those who follow cricket in Guyana continues then many might feel that only a change of the policy makers will result in a change in this disorganised handling of cricket coverage.