GUYANA TO PLAY T&T AT PROVIDENCE

Aug 10, 2010 Sports

Sponsor being sought for South Africa bound team

By Sean Devers

If all plans materialize, the Guyana National Stadium at Providence could be jam-packed and rocking on weekend of August 27 and 28 as dethroned regional 20/20 champions Trinidad and Tobago face-off with new champions Guyana under lights to prove to their respective fans who is the better 20/20 team.
While Guyana will be using the two matches as preparation for their tough Champions League assignment in South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago will be out to justify the partisan sentiments emanating from the Twin-Island Republic which claims that T&T is the best equipped of the regional teams to represent the West Indies in South Africa even after their sloppy performance in the semi-finals sent them crashing to a 4-run defeat against the Guyanese.
This game could be all about bragging rights for the Trinis and provide high-quality opposition to keep the local team on its toes as they get ready to take on the world’s best club teams for the first prize of half a billion Guyana dollars.
Dwayne Bravo recently told the media in his homeland that despite being knocked out of the Caribbean 20/20 championships by Guyana, T&T was still the best 20/20 team in the region and with the Champions League 20/20 fever expected to intensify by month end, the atmosphere at the two matches at Providence should be riveting.
While those who saw T&T’s wonderful performance in India last year when their only loss was in the final to New South Wales will say the Daren Ganga led T&T side should have been the best team to represent us in South Africa, those who heard the same negativity about T&T chances before the tournament commenced and those who have followed Guyana’s 20/20 performance would not be so quick to right Guyana off as inferior to T&T.
In fact Guyana has a better Regional 20/20 record than any other team with just one loss from 11 matches and two championships out of the three contested since regional 20/20 was first played in 2006.
It was Guyana who stopped T&T run for glory in the final of the inaugural competition when Narsingh Deonarine hit Samuel Badree for the million dollar six to give Guyana the first Stanford title in Antigua.
T&T have lost just twice in 12 regional 20/20 games, both times to Guyana while in their most recent 20/20 match-up before the Caribbean Champions, it was Guyana, led by pulsating batting from Rajendra Chandrika, who emerged victorious this year at the Queens Park Oval in the WIPA organized Haiti fund-raiser.
Insularity is still very high in the region and when teams compete at regional level their countrymen are even more passionate in their support than when the West Indies represent the region on the International stage and the grumblings from Trinidad is not unexpected, especially since Chris Garcia had already written a team song for the T&T side for their expected South Africa trip and many in the twin-Island state took it for granted that even before a ball was bowled in the Caribbean Championships, the boys in red would once again be playing on the world stage in this year’s champions league. The disparity in standard between the teams is much smaller in 20/20 cricket than in the longer version and losing when so much preparation was put and the nation was on a cricket high from last year’s showing in India must have been a bitter pill to swallow for the Trinis.
But no one can deny that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the cricket structure on that Island is the best in the region and the Trinidadians have already began preparing for the Regional 50-overs tournament set for later this year after beating Guyana in last year’s final at Providence.
The two planned matches against T&T could be the ideal finishing touches to Guyana’s preparations for South Africa and remaining unbeaten against T&T will result in the South Americans leaving for Africa with their confidence sky-high. A loss will allow the Guyanese to assess their strengths and weakness as they embark on their biggest cricketing mission yet.
Team cricket and fitness are key areas in 20/20 and under Ramnaresh Sarwan the team presents a united front.
While the opportunity of earning millions from the South Africa experience could be a strong motivator for success the players must be told in no uncertain manner that pride and glory for their country are more important than money since if they make their nation proud the accolades, including plenty of cash, will surly follow.
It is understood three companies in India are showing an interest in being Guyana’s sponsor in South Africa but the WIPA could be a deterrent for the Indians.
The fans are behind the team, the Government has pledged its support and the players are hungry to prove that they are the best in the business of 20/20 cricket in the region despite the pessimism and negativity of some in Trinidad who still can’t believe that their best team just can’t beat the Guyanese in the game’s shortest format.
T&T have a massive point to prove to their fans, plenty of money can be made by the organisers of the two matches at Providence and Guyana will get the best possible match practice before they depart.
Those who conceived the idea of bringing T&T to polish off Guyana’s preparations should take a bow and those throughout CARICOM should join every Guyanese at home and abroad as we continue the cry ‘Waka, Waka Guyana in South Africa’.