vinode.mamchan@guardian.co.tt
Given all the problems associated with relocating World T20 matches from St. Lucia to Antigua, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to put their fate into the hands of the rain Gods and hope that they are allowed at least some cricket to be played in the Helen of the West.
The latest information coming out of the ICC is that they are going to allow the cricket to remain in St. Lucia because in addition to the costs involved in relocating the match programme at that venue, there are other factors, like the Sir Vivian Richards ground which will need at least four days to be ready and also the grim weather forecast for Antigua as well.
Only one match in Group A has been played and that was the Windies versus Bangladesh clash on Saturday night at Providence ground in Guyana. The Windies comfortably won that match and is leading the group. If the nine matches scheduled for St. Lucia are washed out, then the ICC will revert to a system where they are going to use the two highest ranked team in the group (Windies and England) and allow them to move on to the semifinals in Antigua.
“Our absolute priority is to do everything we can to play cricket and as such in light of the forecast in St Lucia, we have explored alternative options for group A games,” said the ICC head of events, Chris Tetley.
“After considering a range of factors including a detailed analysis of weather forecasts in both St Lucia and Antigua and an inspection of the square and outfield in Antigua, we have taken the decision to continue as scheduled.
The ICC has decided to add some resources and will be flying in a super-sopper to assist groundstaff in St Lucia, despite the risk of further washouts.
The average rainfall in November for St Lucia is 160mm but in the past 11 days 236mm has fallen, throwing plans into chaos. Locals here are hopeful that there will be cricket at the venue later in the week.
With no indoor facilities available for the teams to train here, they are hoping that the sun can peep out to allow for some work to be done outdoors. The Windies are due to play their second match of the tournament tomorrow against Sri Lanka and they are hoping to at least get on the park for one training session ahead of that match.
Some of the teams are still showing up at the wet ground and using under the main stand to take in some training but is it nothing compared to what they need to do, at a world event.