More confusion over 'A' team Zimbabwe tour
The West Indies Cricket Board is attempting to salvage the A-team tour to Zimbabwe despite being faced with players refusing to tour and confusion over the safety advice given regarding the wisdom of the trip even happening.Cricinfo is reporting that Sylvester Joseph, who was originally named as captain last week, has declined the invitation to lead the side or take part. Daren Ganga was also offered the role on Thursday and also turned it down. The latest name in the frame is Rawl Lewis.
There is also increasing speculation that the WICB is struggling to find enough players of a decent enough standard to fill the squad without it losing credibility. They are due to leave in a week and yet nobody has been named, despite daily assurances that an announcement is imminent.
What is certain is that once again, as happened with the senior side before their tour of England, a West Indies team will set out with little preparation.
Meanwhile, assurances from the West Indies board that CARICOM had given its blessing on player safety have been denied by Eddie Green, CARICOM's assistant secretary general.
He said that Tony Deyal, the WICB's corporate services manager, had been told that "the Bureau of Heads the opinions were split and we need to send out a formal request to all Heads which we did two weeks ago. I have not spoken to him since and the official decison will be made on June 30."
Yesterday, Deyal told reporters that the WICB had "received a no-objection letter from ... Greene".
That now seems to be incorrect.