Keith Semple, meet Lennox Hunte

I have the dirt on some of the shit that's been happening with cricket administration in Guyana. From the mess between Lennox Hunte and Keith Semple to obvious favouritism from the national selectors. In this letter, the writer touches on the controversy. Here is the behind-the-scenes dirt that led to that mess...

First Semple notifies the manager of the Demerara team for the Banks Malta four-day (Robert Adonis) that he is not satisfied with the level of money paid. G$1,500.00 per day for each player (including the captain - Semple) while the manager and coach collects $1,800.00. Semple is told that the salary has already been raised from $1,000.00 so there will be no more changes.

SIDE NOTE: G$1,500 = US$8.00. So, the rate for the captain was approximately US$8.00 per day.

The manager advises him to write a letter to the Demerara Cricket Board voicing his concern. Semple does same, indicating that he would not be playing if consideration is not given to his rank. This is after Semple captains the Demerara team against Essequibo.

The manager, a member of the DCB, takes the letter to a ordinary meeting of the DCB where DCB President Chetram Singh admits a mistake has been made and captain's salary will be raised to $1,800.00 per day. Singh tells the manager to convey same to Semple but before the manager could acknowledge, Lennox Hunte (chairman of the DCB selection panel) blurts out, "We ain't got to beg nobody to play. Leh we play with what we got."

Subsequently vice-captain Travis Dowlin was elevated to captain and the
next national trial list appears without Semple.

Explanation from Chetram Singh: "We hear Semple getting married and going to live in England."

Explanation from Hunte: "Yuh got to play inter-county to be called to trials.

More explanation from Hunte: "None of this woulda happen if he did bring the letter to me. (Remember, Hunte is chairman of the selectors, nothing more!.

'Zegga' (close friend of Hunte) calls Ian John who advises Semple to apologise to the DCB and Hunte among others if he wants to be called to trials (apologise for what?).

More comments from Hunte: "If Semple did want money he should have stayed in the West Indies team. Semple had he turn so let somebody else get a chance now."

And this same Hunte is supposedly a bigwig at DCC.

So, moving forward: Semple hits a century against GYO (121 with 18 boundaries). Another Hunte comment: "Anybody could score a century against GYO."

National Selectors:

First trial match - at LBI - wicket-keeper Azib Ali Hanif who many consider a better batsman and just as good a wicket-keeper as Vishal Nagamootoo is unbeaten on 61 at Lunch on the second day when the score is 361 for seven.

Word comes from Chairman of GCB selectors Joe Solomon that team should declare.

Second team struggling at 150 for 9 with Damodar Dasrat unbeaten on 20-odd. Solomon tells Kevin Darlington who is standing in as captain that if Dasrat is unbeaten when the 10th wicket falls then 12 men would bat.

Team all out. Dowlin's team takes to the crease and reaches 90-odd for five with Dowlin (who opened the batting) unbeaten in the 30s. Solomon says - declaration time. Once again Sewnarine Chattergoon fails although Pooran and Deonarine score half-centuries.

Second trial match - Everest - Left-arm spinner Kumar Nandalall just off claiming four wickets in an innings at LBI, bowls 10 overs as a team amasses over 350. Fast bowler Rayon Thomas bowls four overs in the same innings. NB - team captain is Mahendra Nagamootoo.

Third trial match - Bourda - Day one. Tricky wicket, favouring fast bowlers. Andre Percival 61 not out at Tea. Helping his team from 105 for six to 184 for eight at the interval. Solomon calls on the phone: "Declare!"

Next team amasses over 400 with declaration coming soon after Vishal Nagamootoo is run out in the 30s. On the final day Pooran is allowed to get a 100 when there is no interest in the game. He is now gone ahead of Percival in the pecking order.

Fun stuff, eh?

More to come.