The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

Report: 'Backstabbed' Hooper Quits

Mon, Apr 7, '03

 

Carl Hooper

Ex-West Indies captain Carl Hooper is pulling out of the Test series against Australia and will never play under new captain Brian Lara, according to a report in Australia's Daily Telegraph.

CaribbeanCricket.com could not confirm details of the explosive report which claims Hooper was angry at being "backstabbed" by two of the three national selectors ? Joey Carew and Gordon Greenidge, in concert with Lara, in recent weeks.

On the WICB's Web site, a CMC story confirmed Hooper had pulled out of the first Test squad and signalled his intention to retire.

However, the Daily Telegraph said Hooper was upset at being bypassed for the captaincy and vowed never to play under Lara. "Carl will never, ever play under Brian," a source close to the West Indian veteran said. "He got the captaincy based on an untruthful report on Carl's fitness. Brian is a very insecure man."

It said Hooper believes Carew, former teammate Greenidge and Lara spread lies about his fitness, saying he was "unable to walk and was unfit to play in the team".

"That's just rubbish," the source said. "As soon as Carl went home they started leaking stories he was unfit and that they needed to find a new captain."

The paper said Hooper flew to Adelaide with his family after the World Cup last month to rest and have both of his surgically-repaired knees inspected by local doctors. But he returned to the West Indies in time to play for Guyana in the semi-finals of the domestic competition, where he scored an unbeaten 130 and bowled 40 overs of off-spin.

"West Indian officials have since been calling him up and saying they couldn't believe he was walking properly. They had been told he was unfit to play," according to a source quoted by the newspaper.

"It's understood Hooper would have played under any other captain, even one of the younger players, but believes Lara should not be skipper because of past off-field troubles. Not one of the players in the side respects Lara. Carl may be the first of several to leave the side," it added.