T20 World Cup, SVG and Afghanistan

For the people of SVG the hosting of the ICC T20 World Cup of cricket turned out to be hugely successful, and those who continue to be unfairly critical, for whatever reasons, have again found themselves on the wrong side of history. The spurious arguments about “dance can’t pay for lights” and the nitpicking over minor

issues have not been able to generate any significant support and were engulfed by the larger more relevant issues. For most of us, the historic hosting of World Cup matches, the value in upgrading Arnos Vale, not just for the World Cup, and having a cricketing powerhouse like Australia, play here under lights, were themselves worth the investment. That investment was not just for the World Cup, what is important is how we use it as a springboard for future development, that is what will define its usefulness.

The Arnos Vale improvement project which has been initiated, is not just for local impact, it has far-reaching implications for the future, far beyond our wildest imagination. Who amongst us for instance could have foreseen Arnos Vale as being the venue for one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, Australia being shunted out by Afghanistan?

Blinded by the western media and its obsession in denigrating the country of Afghanistan as being tyrannically “Taliban”, could we imagine Vincentians cheering on these supposedly “Taliban” to a semi-final World Cup place, in a manner only second to that reserved for the West Indies? Or roundly supporting Nepal, a country whose location many of us would have had difficulty locating on the map, against the country of the legendary Nelson Mandela? Yes, life can be strange, and it is important to be able to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.

The spectacle of our people long after midnight cheering for Bengalis, Nepalese and Afghans has already leapfrogged us into unchartered territory. Just in cricketing terms only they have won our respect, and we are sure to follow their fortunes in the future; not just in cricketing terms only. Even if only via the internet, more and more of us will find out more about these countries.

In turn, via their cricketing representatives and travelling spectators, “good vibes” have been generated about our country. Are our tourism and other foreign affairs officials, along with local entrepreneurs prepared to take advantage of whatever opportunities may lie within the favourable climate generated?

Those instinctive expressions for Bangladesh against the Netherlands, Afghanistan against Australia and the warm welcome for Nepal were not just cricket related.

They have their roots in a common history of colonisation and resistance to it. The relatively lukewarm support for South Africa must also have had to do with the appearance of South Africa as predominantly a “white” team as against a representative of a people who conquered apartheid and racism. Too widely political one may say, but there are many instincts within us that we do not always understand.

So, it was not just cricket, history, sociology and politics were all involved, to one degree or another. It has created unimaginable links. Could you imagine that history will record SVG as the place where Afghanistan legitimized its entrance into the higher echelons of World Cup cricket? And Arnos Vale as the venue? It is even more reason to pursue the development of Arnos Vale as a city, there is already basis for brand recognition.

Australians will also remember it, and the Nepalese and Bangladeshis will cherish our warmth. There are hundreds of thousands of people from these countries in touching distance to us, living in the USA and Canada; they must be included in our tourism targeting. Yes, the boundaries may be limitless and certainly beyond my imagination at present. Our young people must be encouraged to latch on to these possibilities. It is said that the sky is the limit. Well Nepal is closer to the sky than any other country, let’s reach out and spread our wings.

• Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.