The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

WICB CEO calls players 'incompetent'

Tue, Jun 26, '07

 

WICB Under Scrutiny

The bad blood between players and administration has reached a new high with WICB chief executive Bruce Aanensen dismissively describing West Indies cricketers as "incompetent."

Aanensen, who took over as CEO just two months ago, lashed out at the players in public comments that followed the WICB's fifth straight arbitration loss and signals that the relationship between the board and the players' association may be broken beyond repair.



According to a report in Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday, Aanensen railed against WIPA's decision to discuss the arbitration decision -- he claims there was a gag order on the ruling; WIPA says it cleared the public comments with the arbitration panel -- and the players' poor performance during the recent Test series against England.

"WIPA wants the board to give them 110 percent of revenue and run West Indies cricket in debt apparently. The players are not doing the job but they want more money despite being incompetent," Aanensen declared.

"Everybody is Dinanath’s player. Maybe he should come out and tell his players that he is disappointed with their performances.

"Dinanath needs to remember that he is a representative of the players who are paid by the WICB. He needs to look at the performance of his players and really find out what are the needs of his players and what they want or would he rather wait before a tour is about to start to raise commotion and try to embarrass the board," the WICB chief executive added.

He was referring to the latest crisis over the proposed 'A' team tour to Zimbabwe, accusing the players' association of not understanding the WICB's commitment to helping its Zimbabwean counterparts.

"Zimbabwe has invited us to tour their country because they need 'A' team cricket to test their level of cricket in their country. The West Indies has a responsibility to help Zimbabwe in a time when their ICC status is being reviewed. God has given us two hands, one to give and one to receive," he declared.

"We are in a position to help another nation get back on their feet and for Mr Ramnarine to question what is West Indian cricket solely to gain out of this tour really say something."