Fistfight on Guyana Team Bus

Thu, Jan 29, '04

 

Guyana

Despite the best efforts of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to hush-hush the reasons for the shake-up of the squad for the regional first-class competition, CaribbeanCricket.com has learnt that a fistfight between all-rounders Lennox Cush and Mahendra Nagamootoo was the catalyst for the move.

The melee, which also included Nagamootoo's brother Vishal, was sparked by a quarrel over a seat on the team bus and had to be broken up by the Mayor of Roseau Cecil Joseph. Nagamootoo and Cush were both fined half of their match fees (US$200) and dropped from the team. Inexplicably, Vishal Nagamootoo was not sanctioned even though he aggressively threatened Cush with a bottle.

The Guyana team, which is still pointless in the competition after three rounds, has been dogged by reports of rampant disorganisation and indiscipline which escalated after the first day's play in the most recent game against the Windwards in Dominica.

An eyewitness told CaribbeanCricket.com the elder Nagamootoo boarded the team bus and demanded that pacer Rayon Griffith vacate a seat. At this point, Cush intervened and a quarrel ensued between the two. Before long, punches were thrown by both parties and Nagamootoo picked up a cricket bat to go after Cush.

"It was right after the day's play and was in full public view of everyone, including the Mayor," the source said, referring to Mayor Joseph, who doubles as the Windwards team scorer. Shortly after, Vishal Nagamootoo picked up a bottle to attack Cush but was restrained by other team members.

Sources say Mayor Joseph threatened both Nagamootoos with arrest after they refused to give up the cricket bat and the bottle.

Interestingly, when the Chetram Singh-led GCB announced the axing of Cush and Nagamootoo along with Andre Percival and Azeemul Haniff, there was not a single mention of disciplinary action. Both major daily newspapers in Guyana reported the news as a cricket-related move by Singh to inject a spark into the lifeless team.

GCB spokesman Terry Holder did not returns calls or e-mail queries for comment.

It is not the first time a physical altercation between teammates has led to disciplinary action in West Indies regional cricket. Last February, Jamaican opener Leon Garrick got into a quarrel with wicket-keeper Keith Hibbert and later threatened him with a knife. Garrick was banned for one game for that episode.