They said “Bring it” and Caribbean people brought it! The T20 world cricket tournament is, I declare, a phenomenal success! Not since the days of Lloyd, Richards, Lillee, Chappel, Botham, Gavascar and Bishan Bedi have I been so glued to my television screen, watching the battle of bat versus ball.
I am not getting involved in the argument of the adverse impact of this version of the game on the traditional test and one day formats. I leave that to the experts. What I am saying is that T20 meets the needs of persons such as me who simply want to watch good, exciting cricket and who do not have a lot of time to hang around waiting for a result.
Frankly speaking, I am West Indian, but, it bothers me not who eventually wins the 2010 championship. From where I stand, this outcome does not define or determine any aspect of cricketing supremacy. This is simply a case of cricketers having fun and spectators sharing in the excitement. Added to this is the fact that sponsors are getting good value for money and administrators are making a profit. Simply put, T20 is win-win for all concerned.
Even the host countries are benefiting, unlike in a tournament of recent memory when all but a few political operatives lost their shirts. Just imagine that the region is spending a mere fraction of what was spent on Cricket World Cup and is reaping benefits that surpass and far outweigh those of CWC.
In the case of Barbados, for example, it is true we did not have to spend hundreds of millions to refashion Kensington Oval on this occasion, but the question is, was it really necessary to spend hundreds of millions on Kensington Oval last time around? I think not! Indeed, the type of free spending that obtained three years ago was not evident this time around, and yet, the excitement is greater. No one knows the true cost of the remodeled Kensington Oval, because bills are coming in up to this day. What we do know, however, is that the dispensation back then did not do very much to cut corners and that the final cost will be several million dollars more than it should have been.
Of course, Richard Sealy made clear from the outset of T20 that there would be no hiring of a boat to transport a couple dozen passengers. Others before him spent $28 million on a boat that hardly brought 28 passengers for the full duration of the tournament. The same applied to catering, transport and security contracts. These were all given to friends and silent business partners with no tendering process or accountability. Money was spent like it was going out of style. Assurances were given to taxi drivers, small hoteliers, restaurateurs, private home owners and store and shop owners that a windfall of money was to be made. In the end, only friends and sidekicks of decision makers made anything and the poor citizens of this country were left saddled with the debts.
This weekend in Barbados the atmosphere is charged. The current government has spent exactly nine and one half per cent of what the previous administration lavished in the name of CWC and yet there is more energy and excitement in the country, surrounding this weekend’s T20 Final, than there was a few years ago for the final of what was proffered as ‘manner falling from heaven’.
Frankly, from a Barbados perspective, I am banking on a Pakistan versus England Final, for I know their supporters would descend upon Kensington and turn this country into Eastern Parkway on Labour Day. But, I know that is wishful thinking as there is the mighty Australia to factor into the equation. Nevertheless, no matter which two teams qualify, Kensington Oval will sparkle like never before on Sunday afternoon and, the good news is, this tournament will be leaving no major debts behind. Indeed, I predict local and regional cricket will benefit immensely from our having hosted this tournament and the taste it will leave in our mouths will be much sweeter than CWC.
Of course there are those who will argue the opposite. Can you imagine an ex-minister of government trying over the past few weeks to defend hiring the Carnival Destiny and paying many millions of dollars to have it sail empty up and down the islands? Can you imagine someone trying to explain their way out of this magical hoax that was played on local businessmen? It is like defending the cost of a prison paid for in United States dollars when local contractors could have built a jail, boasting similar features, for half the money in local currency.
I am saying that had the local consortium built that prison, Barbadian taxpayers would not be saddled today with a $700 million prison debt. Had local road builders been given a shot at that ABC Highway expansion project, we would not now have to look for hundreds of millions on top of what has already been paid, to settle that debt. Had the concept of the development of Kensington Oval been left in the hands of local architects and developers, the price would not have galloped out of control. But then, we all know, Bajans are not heavy tippers.
Nonetheless, this is T20 weekend. Let us roll out the red carpet and welcome our visitors. Let us welcome them the Bajan way. And yes, my money is on England taking that trophy back to Cameron’s country.
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