New Barbados cricket selection panel in place

(Barbados Nation) The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has turned to the majority of the national team’s management to serve as interim selectors.

In the aftermath of the sudden resignation of three selectors, including chairman George Linton, the BCA announced yesterday that team manager Livy Coppin would lead a new temporary panel that also includes director of coaching Hendy Springer, coaches Emmerson Trotman and Vasbert Drakes, along with the captain.

Springer, who also serves as team coach, was the only member of the previous panel who did not resign.

In announcing the new committee, the BCA reiterated its expression of thanks to the members of the former committee.

While the issue remained a big talking point yesterday, Linton opted not to share the reasons that led to his resignation.

Linton, Reid and Inniss tendered their resignations on Friday morning, culminating a dramatic few days over reported differences of opinion with the BCA board of management on the choice of a stand-in captain.

Linton, who was appointed chairman in September 2010 said yesterday he was advised not to speak too much on the matter and would more than likely make a statement in a week.

A former Barbados leg-spinner and a member of previous youth and senior selection panels, Linton declined to say what prompted him to stand down but added that the move was made with little difficulty.

“It was not a hard decision,’ he said. “I had two good colleagues with me. I had their full support. I won’t say anything against them.”

It was reported a few days ago that the Linton-led panel recommended Shane Dowrich be appointed captain in place of injured Kirk Edwards for the fifth-round WICB match against Guyana that started on Friday at Kensington Oval.

The board, however, did not accept the recommendation – the third such instance over the past six months during which they also put forward Dwayne Smith as captain for the regional limited-overs and Caribbean Twenty20 tournaments.