Last year it was a problem over appearance fees demanded by his manager that stopped famous Aussie ex- Test bowler Merv Hughes from guesting at the Chiang Mai Sixes.

This year, following an agreement from Sir Viv Richards , the Sixes' organisers had secured sponsorship of air travel and were all but home and dry on landing one of the greatest cricketers of all time as a guest star in Chiang Mai, only for his manager (who travels with his star), to step in at the last minute with untenable demands for limousines and other luxuries for himself.

The Sixes, a not-for-profit tournament run by volunteers, was financially forced to decline the demands, and so loses out on the very exciting prospect of having 'the master-blaster' as Viv Richards was known in his prime, play in this year's 18th Chiang Mai Sixes from Mar 27-Apr 2.

Sixes tournament director Maurice Bromley, who had worked hard to drum up airfare sponsorship for the star all the way from Antigua, was understandably disappointed at these late demands.

"We try to get these star players to come to Chiang Mai mainly to create awareness and to help us with the efforts being made in Chiang Mai and elsewhere in Thailand with the development of cricket as a sport among Thai school children," explains Bromley. "Sure it's great for the teams to get to play with legendary stars like Sir Viv, but we are trying to make cricket a Thai sport and people like Richards and Hughes could do a huge amount with their presence and influence."

Bromley said he was annoyed that in both cases the stars themselves were very keen to come to Chiang Mai, but their managers seem to have no interest in the good their stars can do.

As for this year's Sixes Tournament, due to begin in two weeks time with 30 teams lined up to compete, Bromley was very upbeat

"We have a number of other very good ex-Test professionals taking part as usual, and while the loss of Viv Richards is sad after so much effort went in to get him lined up, our Sixes participants will make and very much enjoy their own great 'festival' of sport and friendship as always."

The Bangkok Post
15 March 2005