GEORGETOWN (Stabroek News):
THE INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) pitch and field consultant, Andy Atkinson, and SKM Construction Company's Mahesh Parmar who visited Guyana's World Cup stadium site last Tuesday are reportedly pleased with the progress being made.
Atkison and Parmar held talks with local officials during their one-day visit to the Providence World Cup 2007 cricket stadium last Tuesday.
Media were not invited to cover the event but a press release issued last Wednesday stated that the visit was essentially a "status report inspection".
Employers' representative, Walter Willis, of the Ministry of Works and Communication and Local Organising Committee (LOC), Operations Manager Clyde Duncan were the local officers assisting the ICC officials at the site.
PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS
"The evaluation team was pleased with the progress of the stadium facilities," Willis was quoted as saying in the release.
According to the release, ICC officials have determined that the actual overall progress of the facilities are ahead of schedule but pitch and field preparations are behind schedule and this is due to the current rainfall.
At the time of the visit, concrete pre-cast drains were being placed for the field and pitch and all allotted PVC drainage pipes were on site, the release stated.
Trinidad-based company, Terra Forma, is the organisation contracted to prepare the pitch and field and its underground drainage system and Mark Aggerholm, administrative and commercial development manager and Sheldon Weeks, construction supervisor updated the ICC officers on their work schedule.
The Georgetown Cricket Club and Everest Cricket Club are the two grounds identified as practice venues. However, the officials were unable to visit those grounds, the release stated.
Atkinson and Parmar have already visited St. Kitts, Antigua & Barbuda and Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana will host Group C of the Super Eight of Cricket World Cup 2007 from March 27 to April 8 at the Providence Stadium.
