Wes Hall: 'Lara Was Honest with WICB'
Mon, Jan 13, '03
President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Wes Hall has showered praise on the region's star batsman, Brian Lara, for the manner in which he communicated with the Board during his absence from the game.
Hall said: "Lara had been cleared only on December 24, to return to light practice and training. I have nothing but praise for him. He acted honourably and honestly with the Board. I have the highest respect for him and hate to hear the criticism that seems to follow him."
"I am not aware of the basis of the antagonism in Trinidad, but I hope the spirit of conviviality will prevail. It is nothing that some Lara runs will not solve."
Responding to Lara's innings of an unbeaten 71 runs yesterday which helped North capture the Pizza Hut Gerry Gomez Cricket Classic from South, Hall said, "Yes, I heard he has scored some runs. That's really good."
Rev Hall said, following recommendations by the West Indies selectors for Lara and pacer Mervyn Dillon to play in the North-South match, the Board felt, in the interest of the WI team, it was important for both Lara and Dillon to play as much as possible, taking into consideration their recent situations. Lara and Dillon are part of the West Indies 15-member World Cup squad, while Ganga is one of the five reserve players.
Hall revealed that the selectors had made the request to the WICB after Lara, Dillon and Ganga were selected to play in the match, only to be told a few days later that they would have to miss the match because of the two-week World Cup camp in Antigua.
All three were due to arrive in Antigua yesterday, but the WICB had agreed to defer the trio's arrival until tomorrow.
Lara was out of action since September last year when he was forced out of WI tours to India and Bangladesh, because of exhaustion and illness contracted during the International Cricket Council?s Champions Trophy competition held in Sri Lanka. He was ordered to rest for at least six weeks by doctors.
Dillon was recovering from a foot injury sustained in India during the West Indies tour and had to depart the Asian continent in the middle of the seven-match ODI tournament.
Hall said that the team's preparation in Antigua and leading up to the World Cup, will be the most intense and complete that any West Indies team has had for a World Cup.
"No effort has been spared. There is, in addition to the trainer, coach and manager, a South African physiotherapist and masseur and an extra fielding coach. There will be two practice matches in Antigua under lights and the team will be in South Africa for ten days before the start of the series to be able to play a couple of matches and get acclimatised," he said.
* SOURCE: Trinidad Guardian.