SVG and Cricket World Cup

All systems are now being mobilized to their full capacity as the SVG Cricket Association strives to fulfil its obligations in hosting five matches of the International Cricket Council’s 2024 T/20 World cup competition in June this year. This follows the publication of the fixture schedule by West Indies Cricket, the governing body of cricket in the Caribbean, indicating that those five matches will be played at our lone international venue at Arnos Vale.

The confirmation of the fixture list itself followed on-site visits by an ICC inspection team last month, examining the venue as well as back-up practice facilities. Though there has not been any detailed revelation of the report from the visit, one can only assume that the inspection team gave its approval, hence the finalization of the fixture list.

Naturally, the local Cricket Association expects full support from the Vincentian public for our second hosting of World Cup matches after our initial experience in 2007. One can only assume that the verdict on that initial venture was positive and that any recommendations for improvement have been taken into consideration in our hosting plans for the 2024 initiative. Of course, the situation then was much different from the present. For one there were the formidable hurdles of air access, SVG having no international airport then, and the related one of limited hotel accommodation. Fortunately, both issues are being addressed in time for the June venture.

That does not mean that there are no longer public concerns, and it is important that the local organizers acknowledge the right of citizens to express those concerns. After all, significant state resources are being poured into the hosting and while our ability to successfully host matches at the highest international level will be a major accomplishment, there is validity in questioning the overall returns to sport and the country in general as a result of our investment.

In the local context cricket has historically been in an elitist position vis a vis other sports. However, as more and more sports demand attention and support, greater scrutiny must be placed on how scarce national resources are utilized and insistence will be made on both accountability and returns for valuable state resources invested.

It is important that both the Cricket Association and the Government itself see any questioning on such matters not as lack of support for the hosting but genuine concerns that the country as a whole benefits from the exercise. It is both a major sporting undertaking as well as an economic venture.

Cricket West Indies President, Vincentian Dr Kishore Shallow, has already pointed to economic benefits from the World Cup hosting, noting that the region as a whole stands to benefit from international exposure and can reap an expected US $300 million as a result.

There is more to it, however. For instance, it is fair to say that following our first World Cup hosting, not enough attention was paid to continuing the development of the Arnos Vale complex so that its benefits could be spread not only to cricket but other sports as well. When significant state resources are spent, we must ensure just returns to sport as a whole as well as society in general. We must work together to ensure that such a result ensues.