Dear Editor,
There is never a dull moment in West Indies cricket. There has been controversy among the players, their association (WIPA), the directors of the various countries/territories, coaches, et al and now the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and while the back and forth has been going on for the past two decades, the performance of the players has been going downhill.
The latest is that the WICB has flatly refused to accept a recommendation from a Caricom sub -committee to dissolve the Board, on the ground that the process used to arrive at the Caricom position is flawed including a lack of consultation, among other reasons. Instead the Board has decided to implement a five-point plan to move the game forward.
The plan includes the setting up of a sub-committee to review the recommendations of the Lucky, Patterson and Wilkin reports which the WICB has not honoured; appoint a change of management expert; improve communications; develop cricket at school and other levels; and ensure the proper distribution of financial statements.
I have been involved in the summer game for more than five decades; served as Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board in Guyana; covered local, regional and international cricket including Test matches and ODI in several Caribbean Islands, as well as at Lords in London, and I am saddened that instead of seeing improvement, the standard is deteriorating rapidly. As Rohan Kanhai said recently, the players look at the financial aspect and not playing for their country and the love of the game. Basil Butcher made similar remarks when I met him last year in Guyana.
There are of course numerous reasons why the West Indies is almost at the bottom of the ladder, and these include regional politics, favouritism, lack of dedication, fitness, and a host of other things, including the fact that some of the players are attracted to the shorter version of the game which is very lucrative for them. The selectors keep changing the players so often that it is difficult to remember their names.
The Board’s plan will take several years to bear fruit, if it will at all, and the big question is what will happen in the interim.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is not at all satisfied with the WICB as well as the performance of the players.
The various regional boards should in their own way try to arrange tournaments and competition to keep their players in shape.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
