The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has initiated legal proceedings against Cricket West Indies (CWI) and its Vice President, Azim Bassarath, according to a press release from the entity.
Last evening, the board announced the move, saying that the legal proceedings are in relation to the CWI election, which was staged on March 25, 2023.
According to the correspondence, the GCB, who is being represented by attorney-at-law Arudranauth Gossai, stated that the basis of its legal proceedings is connected to the GCB’s “withdrawal in writing of its nomination of Bassarath for the position of Vice-President of CWI before the elections.
At the subject elections, the GCB’s representatives restated the Board’s withdrawal and stringently objected to CWI’s decision to proceed with the election of Bassarath even though the nomination was withdrawn”.
On October 4, 2023, the GCB dispatched a letter to CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow, which outlined that at the March 25, 2023 meeting, the entity made clear its position that it had withdrawn its nomination of Bassarath for the post. The entity several days later, then demanded the resignation of Bassarath, as they questioned the legal basis of the March 23, 2023, election, where the Trinidad and Tobago native was elected.
The correspondence further stated that the decision to withdraw the nomination of Bassarath was taken upon the receipt of “certain information” prior to the CWI election which included accusations of misconduct at the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB)
Further, in the release, the GCB explained, “There were numerous requests by the GCB to CWI to remedy the situation. Two letters were written to CWI President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, requesting the legal basis upon which Bassarath was elected. There was no response to these letters. A meeting was convened by Dr. Shallow and other CWI representatives on July 05, 2023, but the matter remained unresolved.
Dr. Shallow stated that he had received legal opinion that the subject election was properly conducted and that he would submit that opinion, and the names of the lawyers who gave it, to the GCB and the other stakeholders. This was never done”.
In closing, the GCB declared, “As a shareholder/full member of CWI, has a moral and legal duty to institute, promote and support the high standards and ideals of West Indies cricket and to ensure that there is full and unwavering compliance with the Articles of Association of CWI and that all elections held by CWI are conducted in accordance with the law especially now that with the emergence of the stated allegations”.
