Hunte says security key at World T20
WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dr Julian Hunte has identified proper security as a major ingredient for the region’s successful hosting of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) Twenty20 World Cup.
Speaking at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday, Hunte said a lot of work has been put in to ensure the cricketing showpiece is the “best one ever”.
“Security is a very important aspect of what we have to put in place in order to ensure the tournament is a success. We want this to be the best one ever… that is our aim and that is our goal.
“With this in mind, we have to be doubly careful that we put measures in place to ensure that nothing (bad) happens, whilst at the same time ensuring spectators have a good time at these matches,” Hunte said.
Added he: “We won’t be relaxing in any way, but certainly, there would be greater lattitude being given to facilitate a more party-like, typical West Indian response at these matches.”
Dr Hunte, who is also chairman of the tournament’s Policy team, was given strong support by committee member Clive Lloyd.
“We’re not going to be complacent, no doubt about that. The ICC and the West Indies (Cricket) Board have put things in place to ensure the tournament goes ahead unblemished. We’ll be paying attention to pitches, crowd behaviour, players; it (what we do) encompasses everything,” Lloyd said.
The event will be hosted in four territories — St Kitts, Guyana, Barbados and St Lucia — from April 30 to May 16. There will be four groups consisting of three teams each.
Lloyd, the legendary former West Indies captain, said members of the committee have learnt from errors made when the region hosted the 2007 World Cup.
“We’ve learnt from the mistakes… and have put everything in place so that everybody can enjoy themselves. Some people might have said we didn’t do extremely well on that, but at least it came off without any particular problem,” Lloyd said.
The Caribbean team disappointedly lost five of their six second-round games after comfortably getting through their preliminary-round matches during that tournament.
Lloyd, who has also managed West Indies teams in the past, said he is hopeful the regional team makes use of home advantage this time around.
