'Bullyism' Ruining Guyana Cricket
Tue, Sep 23, '03
After failing to get his way within the hiearchy of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Chetram Singh has wielded his sword, as he has done so often, within the Guyana Cricket Board's corridors of power.
Wanting to show his prowess as to who is the "real boss", there was no denying that Singh was the influential force in Shivnarine Chanderpaul being given the Guyana captaincy above Ramnaresh Sarwan, whom the same Singh had supported as West Indies vice-captain.
This unfortunate scenario seems to have had its genesis in the ongoing saga between the GCB and the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), with the latter showing common-sense in appointing Sarwan to lead Demerara in the just-concluded Eldorado Inter-county one-day tournament.
Obviously biding his time, Singh saw this as a way of getting back to his 'enemies', thus satisfying his ego, much to the detriment of Sarwan. So instead of trying to mend an obvious feud between the two players, whether one wants to believe that this existed, the GCB president has widened the rift between the two Guyanese Test players.
Chanderpaul made it public that he wasn't pleased with Sarwan's elevation to the West Indies vice-captaincy by refusing to be Sarwan's deputy in the El Dorado competition. Was it a coincidence that Chanderpaul dropped catches off consecutive deliveries off the bowling of Lennox Cush in the first match of the tournament, played at the Blairmont Estate ground?
Apparently given the firm assurance, by Singh, that the Guyana captaincy was his, Chanderpaul proceeded to excel in the remaining matches. Mind you, Chanderpaul's batting ability is not under scrutiny or question.
But back to Chetram Singh. This is the same person who was aspiring to be president of the WICB a few months ago after Reverend Wes Hall resigned because of ill health. As fate would have it, he was pressured to withdraw at the last moment, paving the way for fresh elections. That surely was a blessing in disguise as he would have wanted to exercise the same strong-arm methods in his dealings at that level.
That he was bitter after that episode is being clearly shown now with his backward approach to Sarwan's non-appointment. Could Mr Singh explain to the Guyanese cricketing public, or for that matter the West Indian public, why himself and the other Guyanese representative on the WICB supported Sarwan for vice-captain of the regional team and are now shunning him as Guyana captain?
It surely lacks consistency.
Sarwan clearly needs the exposure to prepare himself for any eventualities should Brian Lara, for whatever reasons, be unable to lead the West Indies.
Let's get back to the GCB/DCB saga. For several years, Singh controlled both boards with an iron fist until he was ousted from the latter two years ago. Maintaining loyal support from the Berbice and Essequibo boards, Singh was still unstoppable as the GCB president. His term has even being extended to two years following an amendment to the constitution at the 2003 annual general meeting.
Since his ousting from the DCB presidency, the governing body and the DCB have been embroiled in a power struggle in the administration of cricket in Demerara. The non-appointment of Sarwan is but just a tip of the iceberg.
The political backbiting is slowly killing cricket in Guyana and Chetram Singh is fully to blame. He has surrounded himself with toothless 'yes-men' to further his selfish agenda.
In the meantime, the national selectors must be commended for their bravery in the face what appeared to be obvious bullyism.