WICB dumps legends from cricket committee

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has dumped Andy Roberts, Courtney Walsh, Desmond Haynes and Ian Bishop from its cricket committee, citing a need to move "towards a committee-based governance structure".

According to a report by Tony Cozier, the four legends -- who all serve as directors of the Stanford 20/20 board -- were notified of their removal from the committee by an e-mailed letter from WICB president Julian Hunte last week.

They have been replaced by two former chairmen of the committee, Jackie Hendriks, 74, and Mike Findlay, 64, along with Joel Garner and Derrick Parry, all former Test players.

Committee chairman Clive Lloyd, who is a non-executive WICB director, and deputy chairman Deryck Murray, WICB director and president of the Trinidad and Tobago Board (TTCB), retained their positions.

Cozier described the removal of the four legends as "a move that strengthens the long-held perception that the WICB are alienating its most eminent past players."

In the e-mail note to the players, Hunte asked the four to remain on as "special advisors" to a committee that is specifically charged with discussing and making recommendations on cricket matters to the board.

As expected, the players are not happy, saying they feel a sense of rejection. "This has come like a bolt from the blue, especially since the reasons are hard to fathom," Haynes said.

According to Cozier's report, the WICB hinted that the four legends were at time unavailable for face-to-face meetings. "Because cricket is our core function, we have now given it primacy in our meetings," WICB president Hunte wrote. "This makes it imperative for the cricket committee to be active and constantly in touch with one another and the board's CEO."

However, Walsh said he repeatedly e-mailed the board asking for face-to-face committee meetings, rather than teleconferencing, without much success.

Roberts, who remains a West Indies selector panel, blamed the so-called "logistical problems" on the WICB's late notification of meetings.

"When you're trying to get six people on a committee together for a meeting, they need notice well in advance," he told Cozier. "That wasn't happening. For instance, I got a call when I was in Cuba advising me of a meeting a few days later. It just wasn't possible."

None of the four are likely to accept the invitation to a diminished role. Instead, their involvement in West Indies cricket will be restricted to their roles on the Stanford 20/20 board.