Cricket, the game we dearly love, has reached our shores once more. The International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty 20 or “T20” world cup is being hosted by the Caribbean nations and the United States of America (USA). Fortunately, in Guyana, we are elated to be a host nation. The joy of seeing the local team, the West Indies taking on members of the group in Guyana such as newcomers Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Uganda and established competitors of New Zealand and Afghanistan in Trinidad and St. Lucia respectively. As hosts, we are looking forward to achieving a feat that has never been achieved, which is to lift the trophy at the final match in Barbados. It will not only be the first for a host nation to win a T20 world cup but also will add our tally to three as the most world T20 titles having won in 2012 and 2016 editions.
The turnout of spectators for the recent game vs PNG has been unremarkably disappointing. While the Orange stand and Grass Mound seem to have had more fans, the red stand was slightly less populated, and the green stand sparsely had any spectators. This is due to the outrageous ticket prices set by the ICC for the home team games. With ticket prices slated online at US $45 (GUY$ 9450) for the orange stand, US $85 (GUY $17850) for the red and US $135 (GUY $ 28,350) for the green stands, we must assume the ICC is out of touch with the pocketbooks of the local fans. Moreover, the games that are less relevant to the local fans such as the Afghanistan vs. Uganda game played on June 3rd, tickets are sold at US $17 (GUY $3570) for any stand and $6 (GUY $ 1260) for the grass mounds. It is then for us to assume that cricket’s global governing body has a lack of empathy for us as a host nation.
It is obligatory that the current administration of our country address this issue with the ICC. We are a nation that has produced world class cricketers such as Clive Lloyd, Rohan Kanhai, Lance Gibbs, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and the newcomer fast bowling sensation Shamar Joseph, among others. If the current government respects our adorned cricketing history, they will intervene as the Prime Minister of Barbados the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley echoed that under her governance, Bajans will be able to watch cricket at affordable prices. The late great commentator Tony Cozier said “Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties” which leaves us to wonder at what point will the ticket prices be lowered to keep the fans in awe of this wonderful game.
*Exchange rates are estimated at 1$ USD = GUY $210 based on the Bank of Guyana’s website.
