A morning with stylish legends, wannabee legends and styless hats. Diana Ross (blue hat, yellow ribbon), Leontine Price, Patti LaBelle, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Oprah Winfrey, Della Reese, Yolanda Adams, Maya Angelou, Denetria Champ, Shirley Caesar, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan, Ashford & Simpson, Tyra Banks, Usher, Iman, Sidney Poitier, Ashanti, Alicia Keys, Tyler Perry, Angela Bassett, The Edwin Hawkins Singers. Although I miss some essential legends

This week we have pummeled the BU family with our views on the need for our authorities to retrieve our open door immigration policy. More prudence and foresight MUST be exercised given the several indicators which have raised concerns in many quarters. We wish to reiterate that this is not an issue to pussyfoot around because it has deep rooted implications for the future of our proud nation which has navigated many world's challenges over the years, even to this day we basked with pride at what we have been able to achieve.

It seems appropriate that in the month of February we should remember that this is Black History Month which is celebrated in the United States. Unlike the former Prime Minister Owen Arthur who attempted to use symbolism to raise black consciousness in Barbados, we believe in focusing on those things which people can reach-out and touch and leave nebulous behaviour to the academics.

Of course Arthur's experiment failed miserably. He created Heroes Square but left Admiral Nelson 'smack dab' at the centre of things, he created thirteen National Heroes but agreed to host CWC 2007 on dates which clashed with National Heroes Day and consequently cricket lovely cricket won out over any joyous celebrations caused by National heroes Day. To bring it home, he created the Pan African Commission and somehow was able to appoint Ikael Tafari to be its Head, a man who by his pigmentation appears at more than a glance to be Caucasian even if his lineage says differently. Remember that Arthur was into symbolism.

So on this first day of February, Black History Month, the matriarch in the BU household insisted that we use this medium to remember the role of the Black Woman as the underpinning force who is responsible for where we are today as a Black race. Although many Blacks remain psychological scared, caused by our links to our time in bondage, many of us have taken strength from our fallen Black soldiers who have sought by their struggle to take us back to the pinnacle which we once occupied in our Mother Lands. Do you remember Martin Luther King and Malcolm X to name two?

Watch the video, let it remind those who rush headlong to wallow in relativism and materialism and sinfully abandon the struggle.

[video 6852 w=400]

We Shall Continue To Over Come!

Here we are almost at the end of 2007 and not only have intra Caribbean airfares climbed to the highest ever recorded, but travel within the region has fallen dramatically by an estimated 30 per cent. LIAT's response is to cancel a number of flights, rather than making it more affordable to travel, and one is left to ponder exactly what benefits the ordinary Caribbean taxpayer has reaped from the millions of dollars in subsidies the airline has received. According to the Barbados Statistical Service, we lost a total of 11,928 Trinidad and Tobago and other CariCom long stay visitors during the first six months of 2007 alone.

Up until the merger of LIAT and Caribbean Star, the Caribbean represented Barbados's third largest market for long stay visitors. Not only did Intra Caribbean travel supply a lifeline for many of our smaller hotels but even more important that that, it filled rooms during the critical summer months, when we most needed the business. A loss of nearly 12,000 visitors based on average stay and spend represents nearly $30 million in tourism earnings. And what we have to take into account is that this happened during a period that we were hosting the Cricket World Cup when additional intra regional traffic was generated.

What if anything has been the net benefits to the travelling public from the merger?

It is difficult to identify any!
Historically highest airfares!
Reduced traveller's choice!
A grossly overstaffed airline operating from an illogical base!

Is this really the legacy benefit we were looking for?

Adrian Loveridge

10 November 2007

Recently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) which is the governing body for World Cricket, instituted some changes to the playing conditions, effective 29 September 2007. The BU household, like most West Indians, was concerned about the huge sums of money which the region spent to support CWC 2007. Six months later, we remain steadfast in our view that money which were spent to prepare for CWC 2007 does not match a realistic expectation of returns. The much touted legacy benefits are yet to be realized. We hope, for our children’s sake, that we are wrong and the debt created by CWC 2007 is not recorded as the biggest white elephant the region has ever seen.

As we understand it the new playing conditions call for international cricket grounds that host One Day Internationals (ODI’s), 20/20 and Test matches to have boundaries of a certain length:

Boundaries square of the wicket must be a minimum of 150 yards (137.16m) (previously 140 yards 28.01m) with the minimum on one side of 65 yards (59.44m) and straight boundaries must be a minimum of 70 yards (64m) (previously 60 yards (54.86m)

Source: ICC

We have used our best efforts to research the various sizes of the 8 venues which were used to host the recent CWC 2007 but we were unsuccessful. (We need to fire that someone responsible for research in the BU household!) We hope a BU reader can assist us with the exact sizes of the 8 venues. In the absence of venue sizes, we have to take the word of a leading Caribbean Cricket commentator, Joseph ‘Reds” Pereira, who shared his concerns on radio a couple weeks ago. In a nutshell, he indicated that several of the cricket venues which hosted the recent CWC 2007 may find the new conditions to be a barrier to hosting international cricket in the future. He cited the cricket grounds located in St.Kitts-Nevis, Antigua and Grenada which will probably need some more money spent if they want to host international cricket in the future. We find this information, if true, to be very concerning. Even though Barbados and the larger islands may not be placed in the incredible position of not having to spend money so soon after CWC 2007 to further improve venues, it must embarrass the region as a whole to find itself in this situation. Surely the ICC would have known about the proposed changes to the playing conditions and should have passed on that information to the organizers of the CWC 2007.

In the days and weeks ahead with the start of the KFC Cup we will be sure to hear more discussion on this matter.

Related Stories

CARICOM Continues To Fail The People Of The Caribbean
Caricom Heads Of Government Should All Resign Over CWC 2007~ Just A Bunch Of “Fuddy Duddies”
Cricket World Cup 2007 Three Months Later~What Is The Final Tally? You Promised To Tell Us And We The People Have A Right To Know
Barbados Spends Millions On CWC 2007 And Other Projects But Ordinary Workers With Children To Feed Continue To Wait Over Two Months For Wages
Caribbean Region Spends Millions On CWC 2007 But The Three Musketeers Make Millions

$300M BILL

Date February 18, 2007

by AMANDA LYNCH-FOSTER

$316 MILLION "FUH CUP".

That is a conservative estimate of how much it will cost Barbados to host the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.

Research done by the SUNDAY SUN has thus far unearthed BDS$316 326 183 worth of infrastructural improvements and projects related to the tournament which have been done, or are ongoing. This tally is based on adding up the cost of announced infrastructural projects, the completion deadlines of which have been set for before the CWC begins, or before the first matches are held in Barbados in mid-April.

Full Nation Article

Immediately after the Cricket World Cup Final staged on the 28th April 2007, the officials of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) indicated to the Barbados press and public that tabulation of the final cost for hosting the Cricket World Cup would begin. There was an assurance from Mr. DeCaires (LOC Head) that the task of tallying the millions spent, and of course the revenues, would take about three months.

This is a reminder, the time is up!

Read Barbados Underground RSS Feed

There is the belief this information would be made known to the public when the task is completed. BU appear skeptical because at that Press Conference delivered by Mr. DeCaires, he hinted that the government would have the final call. It is our view that the government will release financial information about CWC 2007 ONLY if it is "good" to do so on the eve of the General Election. Prime Minister Arthur should be aware that for such a significant expenditure the people of Barbados deserve to know how their tax dollars were spent. The expectation that it will happen however is slim. The St. Joseph Hospital Report which was used to banish Branford Taitt to Lala Land has worked, current and audited financial statements on HRL Ltd, AKA JAWS and full disclosure about many other deals over the years have served to numb a Barbadian public uncertain of where to turn turn for basic representation.

Has the time come when enough is enough?

It is alleged that the Caribbean as a whole spent close to 1 billion dollars; a huge sum by any measure if this number is accurate__but will we ever know? When we factor that the Caribbean are a collection of developing states and comparatively poor, the poorest of the Commonwealth playing countries, we shudder at how our leaders were duped into expending such a huge sum of money on a sport which is not universal by the International Cricket Council. Even after mortgaging our bodies and souls for the next 50 years the chaos continues within the respective jurisdictions at Board level and by extension the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

We were all fuh cup

Most Caribbean people are proud to have hosted the Cricket World Cup 2007. The idea that our small countries in the Caribbean, which are insignificant on the world stage, would be able to command the resources and implement plans to make CWC 2007 a reality swells our breasts with balloon popping pride. The many local people on the ground which have been educated by our region have demonstrated a level of professionalism which is on par with the developed world. We congratulate this group of people who we hope will now stay in the region and help to move us forward.

Our questions are directed to the politicians. Please tell us the tally for CWC 2007. We deserve to know. We have to repay it. You are the servants. We are the masters.

Related Stories

Barbados Cricket Association Versus The Goverment Of Barbados~CWC 2007 Controversy Continues Unabated

Searching Questions Listed In Anonymous Letter About CWC 2007 Making The Rounds

Caribbean Region Spends Millions On CWC 2007 But The Three Musketeers Make Millions

Prime Minister Arthur Attacks The Barbados Cricket Association~How Will The BCA Membership Respond At The Upcoming General Meeting

This Story Compliment Barbados Free Press

Cricket World Cup 2007 in Barbados - Alarm Bells Going Off At Cost vs Income Balance Sheet-

Jamaica police have scheduled a news conference for later today (Tuesday) in which it is expected they will confirm reports that Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and was not murdered.

The conference will be addressed by police commissioner Lucius Thomas, who will read a statement, outline toxicology results and give details of post-mortem examinations carried out on Woolmer's body.

Read More: Cricinfo

Enough has been written on this issue. BU want to comment though that it has found the handling of the Woolmer case to be highly incompetent given the information which has been made public so far. It is interesting that senior police officials in the Jamaica Police Force are calling for the former Scotland Yard Mark Shields top Cop who headed the Woolmer probe to resign. The international event CWC 2007 did not deserve to be tainted by the inept detecting effort of this Jamaican Police Force.

It is always easy to get it right with hindsight but in the absence of "firm" data Mr. Woolmer could have been sent to the great beyond with dignity without the attempt by playboy Mark Shields to hunt for what was obvious to all even without the evidence. In is generally accepted by West Indies around the world the strong brand of the global Jamaica brand often touches the other Caribbean islands. It stands to reason that the perception in the global arena of the Caribbean has dipped.

Bajan Government under fire

The Barbados opposition has accused the Government of neglecting the needs of Barbadian businesses that worked throughout the Cricket World Cup. Opposition Leader David Thompson highlighted the plight of School Meals staff who have not yet been paid for work done during CWC.

"They don't factor the CWC horror stories of ordinary Barbadians into their analyses. The Democratic Labour Party is insisting that the true experiences of Barbadians from all walks of life should be factored into the analysis and not just the profits of those for whom the fatted calf was killed," said Thompson.

Read More In The Voice Newspaper

The story quoted is about Leader of the Opposition of Barbados David Thompson lamenting the fact that the school meals workers who worked around the clock to ensure the "who is who" that attended the CWC 2007 were fed, HAVE NOT BEEN PAID! BU will not even bother to flog a dead horse on this issue except to say that the longer it persists it signifies a callousness on the part of the persons responsible to remedy the matter.

What we want to highlight is the fact that this negative story has been featured in The Voice newspaper which is a newspaper targeted to the black community in the United Kingdom. I suspect our many black family and friends who live in the UK, and who scour the newspapers for good news to derive comfort in a "foreign land" must be very disappointed at the bad press CWC 2007 continues to generate. Hopefully despite what the head of the local organizing committee for Barbados has hinted, that the final report for CWC may not be made public, at BU we fully expect that on the election trail the government will be hard pressed to suppress this information.

If we thought that the school meals workers not being paid was an isolated one, BU understands that workers at the half way house which provides support services to the Psychiatric Hospital of Barbados have not been paid for the past three months. Increasingly we are hearing stories of so many government workers not being paid for months. In a country which no one can deny as a high cost of living; BU fears the societal tensions which must be brewing given the bureaucratic bottlenecking which continues to prevent ordinary Barbadians from being timely paid. This is the same government which has admitted to paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars in mobilization fees to bogus contractors.

Related Story:

THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PORK BARREL GRUDGINGLY COMES TO A HALT

AN ANGRY Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch abruptly pulled the plug during a live radio broadcast yesterday after a question was raised about his alleged rise from being a “virtual beggar” to millionaire status in recent years. Lynch told Starcom Network’s Sunday Brasstacks talk-show host David Ellis, who was putting the issue of the minister’s reported wealth accumulation after receiving an emailed query in the studio, that the question was “as disrespectful as you can get”.

Source: Nationnews.com

BU reviews the highly publicized incident two months ago when Barbados leading journalist, David Ellis was involved in an unprecedented "on air" clash with Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch, on the popular call-in program Down to Brasstacks. To all those who were fortunate to listen to the program we are reminded by the adage, if yuh start wrong, yuh gine end wrong. It was revealed to listeners that Minister Lynch's participation on the call-in program was preconditioned on tourism industry expert and hotel owner Adrian Loveridge having to suffer the ignominy of sitting in a different studio to enable his own participation on the same program. David Ellis clarified his decision in a subsequent program to agree to the unusual request from Minister Lynch by saying what amounted to the fact that the need to get Lynch on the program to discuss CWC 2007 justified having Adrian Loveridge's watered downed participation from another area of the studio. To David Ellis and Starcom Network BU gives you a brick-bat on that one. No one person - and especially a servant of the people - should ever be allowed to feel that they can dictate to the media to the extent where they would participate in a public discourse which is designed to promote their interest over any citizen of Barbados. It is not BU's intention to rehash all that has been said and written about that fateful show on the 25 March 2007, we prefer to focus on the bigger picture.

The question which begs to be asked is what prompted a veteran journalist like David Ellis to ask what he must have known would have been a controversial question. To offer a response we have to examine Ellis's growing stature as the leading journalist in Barbados which has come coincidentally through the call-in programs and even before that the much listened to "Point at Issue" broadcasted on VOB on Sunday afternoons. The growing public perception appears to be that Ellis is well researched when conducting interviews and feeds the public perception of being knowledgeable on a wide range of issues. David Ellis is a journalist who enjoys public confidence but despite his best efforts is always casted in a "rubbish" light by Prime Minister Arthur. Several times the public has heard Arthur engage in "cat and mouse" exchanges when Ellis has sought to request one on one interviews. It seems logical that if David Ellis is regarded as our leading journalist, who happens to work at the leading radio station with the widest listenership, then Prime Minister Arthur should pay Ellis the professional courtesy by ensuring that there is good public dialogue between the two of them. Perhaps the fact that Ellis regards DLP Brandford Taitt as a mentor and friend could provide a clue. The fact that Arthur has been able to continue his estranged relationship with Ellis with little or no fall-out is worthy of analysis. BU will continue to discount the role of the Barbados Association of Journalists (BAJ) and the lack of feedback or support for Ellis of any kind regarding this matter.

In the aftermath of the Barney Lynch and David Ellis saga it has afforded a terrific insight - if it were not already known - regarding the effectiveness of the media practitioner in Barbados. This is what we know happened immediately after the event:

• Ellis was forced to offer an on air apology to Lynch on behalf of his employer Starcom Network after pressure was received from the highest office in the land. He also offered his personal apology. BU believes that the "question" posed to Lynch was at worst poorly worded but one which John Public wants answered. The "question" must also be seen in the context of the behaviour Lynch exhibited towards Adrian Loveridge on the same program as truly one of being an obnoxious and spoil brat who should have received a good "cutarse" for the effort. Our sources suggest that he was also less than truthful on the issue of the true indebtedness of HRL Ltd, it is well known within the tourism ministry that Lynch has a hands-on approach and now that he has responsibility for HRL Ltd no doubt he would have become very familiar with the case. BU restates that Lynch lied in response to a question from Ellis that he did not know the debt number of HRL Ltd. Lynch is on public record before the Brasstacks program as stating that the HRL Ltd problem is currently occupying his attention and the public will be apprised of government's action plan to restructure HRL Ltd very soon. Now tell us Minister Lynch, how could you have been actively engaged in finding a solution for HRL Ltd but significant knowledge regarding the debt burden of HRL Ltd you acknowledge that you are ignorant? You must take the Barbadian public for ignoramuses!
• Ellis was removed from the hot seat for a while until the issue abated and functioned behind the scenes as producer of the call-in programs. BU will not accept the excuse that Dennis Johnson was on vacation and therefore Ellis was functioning as relief.
• Sources within VOB reported that there was the suggestion tabled to change the current format of the call-in program to a tape delay format, the suggestion was vetoed by Vic Fernandez who thought that it would remove the spontaneity which gives the program its current high appeal and rating.
• VOB has in recent weeks been advertising the post of a Legal Officer who must have the Bachelors of laws degree (LLB) qualification. It suggests to us that as a station it is not only aware of the injudicious comments which can come from callers but also the moderators because after all the Ellis "blunder" was the catalyst for advertising the position.

BU has has attempted to examine the wider implications of the treatment meted out to Ellis - who has become frustrated at his ineffectiveness within the political hierarchy of Barbados - and to have supported a conclusion that the media in Barbados is clearly not respected by a key Estate in Barbados, the government. The harsh reality is that the media practicioners in Barbados are controlled like puppets because the media houses are controlled by the commercial houses which in turn pander to political interest.

A summary of the contents of the letter is as follows:

1) What was the expense to the taxpayers of Barbados for this charter out of India?

2) What was the role of the Director of Cruise Tourism that requested her to travel to India three times?

3) How many passengers eventually travelled to Barbados, and took cabins on the (Carnival) Destiny?

4) How many ICC tickets were purchased by the BTA to give away and at what cost?

5) How many certified travel agents and certified journalists from India did the BTA pay to travel to Barbados?

6) To sum it up, how many people in all did the BTA pay for?

The letter goes on to make some allegations which we can possibly explore with the help of our tourism guru Adrian Loveridge.

Source: Adrian Loveridge

Source: Nation

Just when we thought that enough had been said and written about CWC 2007, "bruggadung" another controversy erupts. Can anyone imagine that the government of Barbados expended over 125 million dollars to build Kensington Oval on land which belongs to the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA)? The public would have been in the dark about this matter if Tony Marshall while hosting Barbados favourite call-in program "Down to Brass Tacks" in response to a caller stated that the BCA owned the Oval. Truth be told now that the facts are in the public domain a lay person would have to admit that maybe legally Tony Marshall is correct. The fact that the government proceeded with haste to build the multi-million dollar complex on land owned by a private members club is incompetence of the highest magnitude. It goes without saying that in a private sector scenario "heads would be rolling". Talking about heads did anyone hear our Minister of Sport speaking out during the CWC 2007? I must say that he is one of the most silent ministers we have had for a while. One would have thought that the CWC would have been the ideal stage for a Minister of Sport to step forward. Any way we will leave Minister Wood for another time.

After Tony Marshall made the pronouncement that the Oval is currently owned by the BCA, PM Arthur obviously took umbrage and launched a scathing attack on Tony Marshall and the BCA. Some might say that if by Arthur's own admission the BCA and the Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporation (BTII) on behalf of government are currently negotiating a solution which involves jointly managing the Oval, then his public chiding of the BCA, and its visible president was unwarranted, and lacked a proper exercise in emotional intelligence. However BU understands that general elections is around the corner and most issues will be politicized to jockey for political advantage. Perhaps this is even more so in the aftermath of CWC 2007 which appears from general feedback not to have met the expectations of the Barbadian public.

The current state of this mess easily suggests that the government dropped the ball and a transaction which could have been closed with the BCA when the Oval was rubble and which would have forced the BCA to close the deal, now has the potential of being protracted. BU says protracted because we have attended BCA meetings in the past and know the characters who are bound to exit the wood work at the opportunity to grandstand and pontificate on this issue when it is eventually tabled; as it must at a BCA general meeting. For those who had the opportunity to hear David Thompson give his views on the CWC on the program "Opening Pair" this morning, it was very insightful indeed. By my timing the interview spanned about 15 minutes and provided for quality radio.

BU does not need a CADRES poll to indicate that the Barbadian public is concerned that CWC may not yield the expected benefits. What time will have to manifest is how the issue will translate in support for the upsurging DLP at the polls. For some though is will be whether Marshall's gnashing of swords with Arthur will see is demise like many before who have done do.

• Related link
• Related link
  

CONFUSION ON THE RAMPAGE

 

‘Above our heads’
Published on: 5/7/07.

nationnews

GOVERNMENT must listen to the cries of ordinary Barbadians about the Cricket World Cup (CWC) and stop beating its chest about profits from the just concluded event.

Opposition Leader David Thompson, in a release yesterday, said several Government officials giving “A” grades to CWC in Barbados were not among those who made the sacrifices and who also would be footing the final bill.

Last Saturday at a Press conference, Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Clyde Mascoll, said there were mostly “A” grades associated with Barbados’ segment of the world’s third largest sporting event.

Thumbs-up were given for visitors arrivals, spectator support at Kensington Oval, cruise ship passengers and foreign reserves. Mascoll added the Oval had earned back, in less than a year, almost 30 per cent of the more than $100 million spent on its redevelopment.

However, Thompson was not impressed.

“It is amazing how ministers of this Government could so easily go against the tide of public opinion. Barbadians are counting losses and their ministers are counting profits. Nowhere else in the world could this be taking place.

“For all right-thinking Barbadians, Cricket World Cup was a disappointment.

“It did not deliver one-quarter of what it promised and if our leaders find cause to beat their chests, they are truly disconnected from reality,” he said.

The Democratic Labour Party leader accused Mascoll of “insulting the intelligence of Barbadians” by pointing to gross possible gate receipts as indicative of net earnings from CWC.

“First, the minister must tell the nation how much money was spent. Secondly, how much of what was collected goes into the public purse.

“Interesting also, he must tell us who actually owns the redeveloped Kensington Oval. I do not want to believe what I am hearing about Kensington, $150 million later, not belonging to all Barbadian taxpayers.”

He said while his party had done its part to facilitate a smooth tournament, now the dust was settling, certain truths needed to be set out.

“The Minister of Tourism must not just tell us about the huge numbers that attended games in Barbados. He must . . . tell us the number of complimentary and ‘throw-back’ tickets that made up those full houses.

“Sponsors’ tickets are not quantified in dollar terms. Neither should those that were made available to schoolchildren after the Pakistanis and Indians went home. Barbados did not collect that money and the ministers know this.”

Thompson said he found it interesting no other Caribbean leader or government minister had hailed CWC as anything other than a let-down.

“Barbados spent more than any other country. We probably spent more than all the other countries put together, because if you observe carefully you would see that most of the stadiums in the other countries were gifts and grants from China and Taiwan.

“In the case of Barbados, Barbadian taxpayers had to pull their pockets and will be saddled with that debt for the rest of their working lives and you have a minister of Government beating his chest talking about how this has helped to transform the game in the Caribbean,” he said. (PR/BW)

Now here is the BLP's version of events:

BENEFITS TO ALL OF US

David Thompson and his cronies are out of step with the rest of Barbados with regards to Cricket World Cup. The overwhelming majority of persons, including overseas observers, have heaped tremendous praise on this country for its excellent performance. Many knowledgeable local observers with no political axes to grind have testified that we are truly the benefactors of CWC 2007. This country has gained priceless exposure and those who read the overseas press will readily agree that Barbados has come out well from staging the extravaganza.Thompson and the Dems are now saying that the cost of staging the event was too high. They have been using the figure of $500 million, a ludicrous exaggeration which is most self-serving and untrue. Perhaps they should tell us how they arrived at that figure, do they have information that is unknown to the rest of us? No, they are just flying a kite, but we are prepared to cut the cord. Do they figures include money spent of the roads and will the roads cease to exist after CWC? Do they include improvements to the health infrastructure which in any case will serve us well after the event?

Of course, all of the success would have choked the Dems who were looking for the event to be less than successful so that they could heap blame on the Government. It is therefore to be expected that Thompson would behave as he is now doing. After all elections are one year away and Thompson knows that his very political existence is at stake. Thus as a drowning man, he will clutch at any straw.

We recall the President of the local Hotel Association on many previous occasions expressing some reticence about the expected success of the event from a hotel�s point of view. Now that the event has concluded he is singing the praises of the event, noting the fact that occupancy levels in the hotels are well above that for the previous years. Many small hotels on the South Coast have been the beneficiaries of the wise decision to host CWC. That would give the lie to those Dems, who are expressing a different view, obviously based on their own warped wishes.

Many taxi operators have done very well during the World Cup period and they have been prepared to express that view. We are told of the vastly improved numbers visiting places like St. Lawrence and Oistins and this meant that a lot of ordinary Barbadians have benefited from the large numbers present on the island. The fisherfolk in the temporary Bay Gardens have been delighted at the increase in business over the period. Those persons who have borrowed funds to renovate their homes are now in a better position to become involved in the growing bed and breakfast activity, an important part of our tourism offering. Contrary to what the Dems are saying, ordinary folk have benefited from our staging CWC.

The legacy benefits are there for all to see and indeed to take advantage of Kensington Oval has been transformed from a run down exhausted stadium to one of the best in the world. It has become the place befitting some of the best cricketers the world has ever seen. We all can be extremely proud of it and what it represents in the psyche of all Barbadians.

The Dems will continue on its nit-picking path, they have nothing else to offer. The public is satisfied that the country has done well out of CWC and will continue to bask in the success of the event.

What is the DLP hinting at here? Can we have specifics please? Email us with the info then.

DID CRICKET WORLD CUP MAKE MANY MILLIONAIRES?

1 hour ago by dlpbarbados.

There are always persons who encourage the staging of big events, since they put themselves in the position where they can benefit substantially. The Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean can therefore be tested against this kind of analysis. It is already stated that more than 500 million united states dollars were spent in delivering the Cricket World Cup. That is a major amount of money for small emerging economies to commit to one event.

Barbados spent as much money as all of the other territories combine. The Redevelopment of Kensington Oval will surely cost more than the hitherto stated $135 million. Then all of the other associated costs must be placed before the public. We are therefore asserting that projects done in the name of cricket world cup would have costs the taxpayers of Barbados over $400 million.

Were millionaires created as a result of the spending of so much money in such a short period of time? The public should know who were the major beneficiaries of the various contracts and who were pain large sums of money under dubious areas of responsibility. Citizens have a right to know. The obvious spin which government officials are putting on the Cricket World Cup would suggest that their is more in mortar than you can see on the pestle.

We revisited the topic in light of recent comments by Tony Greig who is one of the world's most famous commentators on cricket and Prime Minister Arthur of Barbados.

Click Here To Listen

Read BU RSS Feed

Greig painted a picture of ICC being an old boys club which has always done things in its own way. He dispelled the mis-information which CWC 2007 organizers were advertising in the Caribbean that the revenue from gate receipts was the highest ever of all world cups held. Simply put, there were more matches stages in 2007 so logically more revenue from gate receipts were gotten. He clearly has implied in his commentary that the modus operandi of the ICC was well known to all who took the time to investigate and the respective governments of the Caribbean should have done their homework. ICC has a recorded history of holding on to the vast sums derived from the TV rights and the crumbs to be had from gate receipts are left to the host countries. When one considers that India, South Africa, Australia and other previous world cup hosts would have had modern playing facilities available and would hardly have had to outlay significant capital to build stadia, clearly the West Indies negotiating team should have seized the opportunity to get an agreement which recognized our more inferior financial state. What makes the decision even more questionable if we accept the reporting from a leading blog is the fact that the Heads of Government were not made aware of all the terms of the agreement until the deal was a fait accompli. How could this be especially in light of the huge sums which the respective government had to commit to host CWC 2007. Here is a snippet from Caricom blog.

Since the region’s successful bid to host the historic event back in 1998, many things have went wrong. The Host Agreement between WICB/CWC Inc with the ICC was not shared with the Caricom governments till the hosting of the World Cup had become a virtual fait accompli for them. By the time Caricom representatives began demanding for the copy ~ thanks to militancy of a few of their own attorney generals ~ a fair bit of collective sovereignty of Caricom governments had already been undermined.
No sooner the demands began gaining urgency, the ICC and CWC Inc. officials were ready to raise alarms about possible shift of World Cup 2007 to either South Africa or Australia. Experts feel it was an orchestrated strategy and some of Caricom governments fell for it. Overwhelmed as they were about the prospects and legacies of CWC 07, Caricom leaders had to settle to hope for the best.
They had no option but to place too much faith in the competence and integrity of WICB/CWC Inc negotiators with the ICC.

Today our Prime Minister who appeared to have suffered from laryngitis over the the last weeks has begun his strategy of spin, we all know that he is the master of it! He first release his army of foot soldiers on Sunday and he followed soon after. What is clear after listening to Tony Marshall in the news is that there appear to be some tension between Arthur and Marshall over the fact that he went public on the issue of who should manage the new Kensington Oval. Marshall was very clear when making the point that discussions are ongoing and it would be premature to comment on what the final decision would be. Clearly he rapped Arthur on the knuckles for politicizing the matter last night.

The Bajan public, if BU can measure public opinion, appears to be on to Arthur. BU waits with bated breath on how Arthur will continue to practice the art of spin in the aftermath of what the world perceive as the most farcical world cup ever!

BU stated previously that we would wait until after the CWC final before commenting in any serious way about CWC 2007. The truth is that so much has been said already that to rehash would be a bit boring. For example here is what the BBC blog had to say, see if you can detect the feeling that the writer is glad that the show is over:

BBC Blog Site ~ written by Martin Gough

Many Barbadians I spoke to when the news broke a few years ago that the region had successfully negotiated to host the CWC 2007 were happy at the idea. Of course this was before any number crunching was presented to a trusting public around the cost that would be required to host the event. In fact to this day I have not been able to find any business model which was used to cost justify the reported 1 billion plus dollars spent by the region so far. If we read between the lines from the sound bites which our Prime Minister has given us it seems to is here at BU that the decision to buy into Pat Rousseau’s aka Chris Dehring’s cricket vision for the Caribbean was predicated on a healthy dose of sentimentality. Here is a sound bite to demonstrate our point:

PRIME MINISTER OWEN ARTHUR hopes that the legacy of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 will be a brand new generation of cricket lovers in the Caribbean, and with it a regeneration of the sport.

He made his comments at a reception at his official residence, Ilaro Court, on Thursday, to thank all those involved in the Barbados World Cup effort.

The Prime Minister called the CWC a "memorable event in the lives of Caribbean people", and spoke of its effect on his own family.

"I have a seven-year-old daughter who now knows about Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Garfield Sobers.

"I hope that this tournament will leave behind a new generation of Caribbean people who are as enthusiastic about cricket as I was at eight years old when I witnessed my first Test match in 1958," Arthur stated.

Source: Nation

Now the PM must be out of his cotton picking mind! We don't need to employ any pollster to determine that the emotional attachment which we once had for cricket is rapidly being diluted by the plethora of options which generation X and Y now have before them. We will not even bother to list them. PM Arthur should not ask his 7 year old daughter but instead his 21 year old daughter what is the interest in cricket in her peer group. I suspect that he will get a response which is consistent with what we all know. King cricket is dying! Blogs around the Caribbean have been discussing this issue for some time; the consensus it seems to us is the same across the Caribbean.

Let us examine the key consideration which appears to have influence the decision for the region to host CWC 2007-THE LEGACY BENEFIT which has been discussed at length over at Barbados Free Press. At BU we have declared our hand that Messrs Owen Arthur, George Mitchell, PJ Patterson et al, the baby boomers who would have experienced the value which cricket brought to an oppressed Caribbean people of the 60s and onwards no doubt allowed that to distort their thinking when agreeing to host CWC 2007. To think that Mitchell is a mathematician and Arthur an Economist!

At BU we tried to do some back of the envelope analysis to satisfy this topic. We selected the countries that participated in CWC 2007, listed their populations and graded them based on what we think is their market potential. A quick and dirty criteria was if the potential traveller had to journey more than 10 hours to get to the Caribbean. I am sure that our good friend Adrian Loveridge can offer the technical knowledge missing to beef-up the criteria. Readers to BU can make their own judgment call on what we think is an investment which was made on flawed business logic. The conclusion which can be immediately drawn is that with the exception of England, Canada and to a lesser extent Ireland none of the other countries that participated in CWC 2007 offer any significant value-added to increasing our tourist traffic.

Is it conceivable that the majority of our leaders committed to the CWC 2007 undertaking to pad their legacies by stoking that sentimentality we referred to earlier? No, No...what a stupid idea on my part.

The match referee Jeff Crowe took the blame for the farcical finish to the World Cup final which saw Australia celebrate victory twice and forced Sri Lanka to bat in pitch-black darkness. But he suggested the third umpire Rudi Koertzen may have initiated the process leading to chaotic scenes at the climax of the game.

Source: Cricinfo

As if to rub salt in the wounds of a worried public which has seen their respective governments spend over 1 billion dollars to build stadia and other infrastructure, the body which has oversight for the bizzare end to CWC 2007 had this to say:

CRICKET'S governing body has apologised for the bizarre ending to the World Cup final that was brought about by an elementary error from match officials.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive officer Malcolm Speed described the finish as the most farcical conclusion he had seen in a cricket match, but said the officials responsible still had a future at the highest level.

Source: Nation

It seems that even Crowe was uncertain as to what is fate should be, but after reading Speed's response Crowe should not worry:

Asked if it was a resigning issue, Crowe said: "I'll have to talk with my superiors on that. But I hope not."

Source: Cricinfo

I guess by know that you get the thrust of my thoughts around who is to blame for the fiasco on Saturday evening. A lot has been written and said and no doubt history will have to allocate volumes to record events around CWC 2007. One thing is sure Jeff Crowe should not referee another major cricket game again given his poor judgement. My conclusion about Crowe's match refereeing skills is that he was incredibly stupid or .... The other supporting ICC cast who officiated should have to suffer a price as well though not as draconian. It seems unjust that the ICC should walk away from CWC after pocketing millions from TV rights and they are only obligated to throw a few dollars at the island nations which have mortgage their souls for eternity to host CWC 2007.

It is the start of CWC 2007 and despite all that has been said and things that have gone wrong there is a sense of pride that Barbados of all the venues to date has delivered big time! We have visited the stadium and it is a world class facility, the volunteers and security have been wonderful. BU hopes that it will be a great final.

From BU to the many thousands to our shores we say WELCOME!

UPDATE

Australia wins in what ends in a farce! BU is currently too embarrass to report on the final hour of the final : - ( but I found a fellow blogger who encapsulated BU's feelings 100%!

Cricket World Cup 2007 Final

11 minutes ago by hankypanky. Spam? Tags: Cricket

 

The final of World Cup cricket played was the worst example of the farcical duckworth lewis method. This stupid rule has ruined quite a few number of important world cup matches and now including the Final.

Cricket Management including the ICC council president and chief executive should resign over this amusing state of affairs. For so many years, cricket enthusiasts and followers have been complaining about DL method. … Can someone tell me when was the last time when the team batting second had won under DL method… perhaps never..

And why could the world cup final be not played over two days to give both teams a fair chance to win. I am not saying that Australia did not deserve to win .. kuddos to them for showing how quality side they are but I am sorry to say Sri Lanka were not given a fair chance to compete and hence this game was biased in favour of Australia from the time DL method was activated.

With clouds looming over and the required run rate jumping from 8 to 10 with a short rain drizzle made the picture clear of SriLankans… either slog everyting and lose… or not slog and lose… sorry but its true… there was no way on earth they could pull them out of this farcical statistical chase.

It is such a shame that the World Cup Final had to end in a way when the batsmen were playing in total darkness with no lights because… the stupid ICC would not allow the game to run over two days…

World cricket need new thinking and new managers. It is time the old thinking go and retire….. The way the whole world cup was played with half the matches involving cricket minnows made a mockery of the whole challenge which is supposed to bring the top cricketing nations against each other…. ( I am sorry but whatever brave show those nations like Ireland and Bermuda etc. put did not add to the quality of the game).

Shame on ICC and its management…

Source: hankypanky

Here is another blog I found which seems to be Australian in flavour : - )

Gilchrist blazes in Barbados gloom to win World Cup

---

The only thing worse than sacrificing a night's sleep to watch Australia thrash a depleted Sri Lanka is to lose a night's sleep watching rain interruptions. To add insult to injury, I was forced to listen to country music on ABC radio while waiting for play to commence. Apologies to any country music fans but it truly was excruciating. When the game finally began (at 2.15am Brisbane time!), the match had been reduced to 38 overs per innings.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

AFTERMATH - A shot in the dark? Clearly Wasted Cricket: CWC 2007, OITC!

Labels: cricket, crime, CWC 2007, ICC, law, money, murder, sports, travel, UK

Source: Bajan Reporter 

'Dad's Army' they were called before the tournament began. Maybe the cool and pristine surroundings in the Caribbean rejuvenated the lot. The statistics speak for themselves. Glenn Mcgrath and Matthew Hayden may be 37 and 35 respectively, but they seem to be enjoying the best form of their ODI career, topping the batting and bowling charts with ease.

If Australia achieves the feat, then skipper Ricky Ponting, vice-captain and 'keeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist and McGrath will the first players to have won the tournament thrice (as players that is). But they face a tough nemesis in Sri Lanka, whose coach Tom Moody will also be looking forward to a third triumph. Moody was part of the Australian sides in 1987 and 1999; in the latter he played alongside Ponting, Gilchrist and McGrath.

Australia would have already accomplished the hat-trick of wins had the Lankans not beaten them in 1996. On the Lankan side, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Marvan Atapattu remain from that victorious squad. The Aussies may not have bitter memories though, since the only players in the team today are Ponting and McGrath - two players who have gone on to achieve many greater glories in international cricket.

Sri Lanka go into the finals with an equal chance of winning, as their bowling attack is on par if not more potent than Australia's. The way Lasith Malinga bowled on Tuesday was phenomenal, and it remains to be seen how he comes up against a formidable Aussie top-order, if he can repeat the perfromance that is. Muttiah Muralitharan is the key player. Last time when these teams met, Sri Lanka rested Malinga, Murali and Vaas. Sri Lanka failed to defend the score of 226 that they had put up. However, with the trio back, any score near that one would make for a compelling final. But the Lankans could be put on the back foot if Hayden attacks Vaas and Farveez Maharoof, who may get the nod ahead of the struggling Dilhara Fernando.

The Sri Lankan batting has looked shaky, but skipper Mahela Jayawardene will be the man that McGrath and Co. will be gunning for, apart from the dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya. Last time around, the Aussies bowlers had Sri Lanka on the mat at 27-3, but Jayawardene and Chamara Silva led a fightback and the Lankans would have been disappointed not to have scored more than 250.

For the Lankans, middle-order bat Chamara Silva has played in this World Cup at the expense of the experienced Marvan Atapattu. Interestingly, Atapattu was also on the bench during Sri Lanka's 1996 winning campaign. A lucky charm? But then no other cricket team in the world has debunked charms, horoscopes and other myths as nonchalantly as this Australian side has.

Australia v/s Sri Lanka
Saturday, April 28
AKG: Sri Lanka
MJV: Australia

Match starts at 1900 IST on DD-1, SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).

clipped from bajan.wordpress.com Summing Up Cricket World Cup In Barbados   As the 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC) event draws to a close, with the hosting of the final in Barbados on 28th April, it is perhaps now time to analyse in-depth, exactly what economic benefits it has brought to the nine hosting countries. Of course, any informed tourism player, knew these very speculative figures of ’90,000’ long stay visitors and ’75,000 cruise ship passengers’ were totally unrealistic and some of us have been saying so for months.But the media and the general public seem to have blinded by the rhetoric and not stopped to question, that even filling all our various land based accommodation options, Barbados is only actually capable of housing about 17,000 persons.Over the next few weeks, I am sure much finger-pointing will be going on to see exactly what the negative financial implications are.Let us hope we can learn from our mistakes. Adrian Loveridge Barbados

Source: Barbados Free Press

New Zealand and Sri Lanka square it off at Sabina Park on Tuesday. Sri Lanka's bowling attack has performed well so far in the tournament and it remains to be seen if Lasith Malinga will play the crucial match after missing out in the last few games. Both teams received a drubbing at the hands of the Aussies in the Super Eight, and will be hoping to avenge the same by beating the Australians in the finals.

For New Zealand, Shane Bond will be the key. Bond has looked a bit jaded and missed out on the game against Australia. However, one doesn't know whether he was unfit or skipper Fleming was pulling a fast one in order to give some rest to his bowler apart from not wanting to play him against Australia. Sri Lanka would know, they too 'rested' Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan against the Aussies. Malinga didn't play that match as well. So, one things for sure, both these teams know who they facing in the finals.

It will be interesting to see how the Sri Lankans play the Kiwi spinners. Fleming must play his best bowlers and Bond, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel and Daniel Vettori fit in automatically. Scott Styris and Craig Mcmillan will also bowl, and so the toss-up will be between James Franklin and Mark Gillespie if the Kiwis play one more bowler. Franklin would bring a bit of variety into the attack, if he is consistent with his line that is.

The difference between winning and losing in this match could boil down to how the Kiwis handle Murali. Scott Styris needs to take charge in the middle and keep the Sri Lankan spinners at bay. This will be in all probability the more exciting of the two semi-finals.

Talking about exciting matches, the semi at St Lucia will be if the South Africans are up to the task. The Australian top-order has the likes of Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting, and it will take some effort to dislodge them from the crease. Even if they are, the Aussies have the Michaels - Clarke and Hussey, Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson to rely on.

South Africa will need Pollock to fire early on and perhaps should give Andre Nel the new ball. The South African middle-order will need to support their openers, and Justin Kemp has been a mere observer in the games he has played in. Perhaps the South Africans could ask him to do some pinch-hitting or play Loots Bosman. Maybe they could also bring in Makhaya Ntini which will give Smith an additional bowling option which may be needed if the Aussies get a good start as they have been accustomed to.

Predictions:
New Zealand v/s Sri Lanka
Tuesday, April 24
AKG: Sri Lanka
MJV: New Zealand

Match starts at 2000 IST on DD-1, SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).

Australia v/s South Africa
Wednesday, April 25
AKG: South Africa
MJV: Australia

Match starts at 1900 IST on DD-1, SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).

DLP Version of CWC 2007

ANSWERS NEEDED-PROBE CRICKET WORLD CUP, BE ACCOUNTABLE

As the ICC Cricket World Cup winds down in the Caribbean and the various persons try to find cover for the appalling disaster that it really was. The media will not assist us in any way. They too will become caught up in the grand finale, which will mostly be a success. Barbados learned from the mistakes all around and is trying to portray to the world we did it better. There is nothing wrong with that, but we have to join the others in the Caribbean for a thorough post-Morten of this event. Surely no amount of celebration after the event in one territory can wipe away the shame, embarrassment, scandal and disgrace that CWC brought to the Caribbean. The citizens of Barbados and the wider Caribbean must demand a transparent and authentic report of CWC. Anything less will be a tragedy.

read more

BLP VERSION OF CWC 2007

FULL HOUSE AT THE OVAL

April 22nd, 2007

From the Nation

Kensington Oval was packed - barely a spare seat could be seen in the stands as 22 000 people came out to see Lara for the very last time.

Full house at the Oval a World Class facility.

Surely this is what the LOC had in mind when they redeveloped the Oval. They must be congratulated.

One can only imagine what the semi-final and final will be like.

Many Hoteliers reporting increased occupancy.

Those hoteliers who stuck to the contract were fully paid even if the Indians and Pakistanis did not come and they now have the opportunity to sell those rooms again. They have done very well.

The vendors and Taxi drivers are reporting good bussiness over the last few days and we have not even got into the semi-final and finals week.

Restaurants ,clubs and attractions having increased sales.

read more

UPDATE FROM BLP BLOG

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

April 24th, 2007 · 1 Comment

Society accuses cricket authorities of exposing cricketers to Munich like danger

1 hour ago by Ranjith Wijewardene. Spam? Tags: World News, Sports News & Opinion, Cricket, World Cup, Sri Lanka, South Asia, ODI

 

 

SPUR ACCUSES CRICKET WORLD CUP OF EXPOSING SRI LANKA CRICKETERS TO A GROUP WHO PRACTICES SUICIDE ATTACKS

By Walter Jayawardhana

SPUR has protested to International Cricket Committee (ICC) that a lax security at the Cricket World Cup at Granda National Stadium has exposed the Sri Lankan cricketers to Munich type terrorist attack by suicide bombers.

 

The photograph of LTTE supporter invading the cricket pitch with a red colored terrorist flag of the spring tiger has accused the world cricket cup organizers of a lax security arrangement where the London based Amnesty International aided by the LTTE also is allowing a cricket ball campaign against Sri Lanka.

Though Amnesty International says its campaign is not against the Sri Lankan cricket team who have entered the final round of the World Cricket Cup it had selected the cricket ground for a campaign against Sri Lanka.

When Sri Lanka was playing against Australia a supporter of the LTTE terrorist group invaded the cricket pitch exhibiting the terrorist group’s red colored flag that denotes a ferocious springing tiger framed by two bayonets.

LTTE is the world’s leading suicide bombers and sold its technology of suicide bombs to the Middle Eastern Al Queda group. Intelligence experts say the current suicide jackets used by Al Queda is a result of the technology sold to them.

The LTTE has increasingly used children and women wearing the suicide jackets targeting civilian and military in Sri Lanka and India. Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is the most famous suicide bomb victim of the LTTE.

The website says due to the lax security situation at the World Cup tournament, the organizers have exposed the Sri Lankan team to a Munich type situation by allowing the terrorists to invade the pitch.

In a statement published in its website the man who invaded the cricket pitch with a terrorist flag said, “Even if he had been a suicide bomber or a gunman on a mission to create a ‘Munich’ type situation, there would have been very little that the security personnel on duty could do. For an outfit that has assassinated an incumbent President of Sri Lanka, made an attempt on the life of another President, killed a foreign minister and blown a former Prime Minister of India to bits, harming a team of cricketers is only child’s play.”

The website further said, “The raid comes against the backdrop of the London Headquartered Amnesty International launching a campaign styled as Sri Lanka: Play by the Rules. It is possible that these flags may be displayed by terrorists backed by pro-LTTE NGOs to demoralize the SriLankan cricket team and rob them of a possible World Cup victory”

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has announced that it is supporting the play by rule cricket ball campaign launched by the Amnesty International.

England v/s West Indies
AKG: England
MJV: West Indies

Match scheduled to start at 1900 IST on SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).

However, both teams would need to focus on this match first. Shane Bond has troubled Australia in the past and Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming will be hoping that the bowler rises to the occassion. Bond though has looked slightly off-pace though his swing and line have generally been on target. Perhaps being pitted against the tearaway bowler Shaun Tait would spur him to bowl that much quicker.

New Zealand have had successes in the recent past against the Aussies but no one has beaten this side in the World Cup for a good 26 matches. This one should be a thriller, especially if the Aussies are given a target to chase. It would be good preparation for them, though handling Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel well by no way means that the champions are ready to face Murali.

Australia v/s New Zealand
Our predictions:
AKG: New Zealand
MJV: Australia

Match scheduled to start at 1900 IST on DD-1, SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).

Our predictions:
Bangladesh v/s West Indies
AKG: West Indies
MJV: Bangladesh. If they bat first, a score of around 200 would be a fighting total to defend once their three left-armers come on to bowl. The shot selection of some of their batsmen, including the classy Mohammed Ashraful, is awful. Aftab Ahmed is a dozen runs and done kind of batsman at the moment.

Match scheduled to start at 1900 IST on SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).

Ireland will feature in their last match of the tournament. Most of their cricketers will return to their workplaces back home, very well knowing that this World Cup will always be the highpoint of their sporting careers. They bought a sense of joy to this World Cup, and the 'Chicken Dance' is just one of the few examples. Hope the world has one more cricketing nation to look up to.

Ireland v/s Sri Lanka
AKG: Ireland
MJV: Sri Lanka

Match scheduled to start at 1900 IST on SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).

Ireland will feature in their last match of he tournament and most of these cricketers will return to their workplaces back home, very well knowing that this World Cup will always be the highpoint of their sporting careers. They bought a sense of joy to this World Cup, and the 'Chicken Dance' is just one of the few examples. Hope the world has one more cricketing nation to look up to.

Ireland v/s Sri Lanka
AKG: Ireland
MJV: Sri Lanka

Match scheduled to start at 1900 IST on SET MAX (English) and SAB TV (Hindi).