'I Can Reverse Windies Decline'
Wed, Jun 15, '05
Two weeks ago in my address at the West Indies Player Awards Dinner in Jamaica, I unwittingly suggested that the administration of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Board should consist of knowledgeable personnel with international cricket experience and bona fides.
That statement was prompted by my painful observation of the futility of the leadership of WestIndies cricket in the recent past.
This failure has manifested itself not only in the palpable decline on the field, but in the overall discipline and development of West Indies cricket or the lack of it, as well as the invidiousness that has characterised the relationship between the Board and the players.
This unfortunate attitude has tended to negatively affect the corporate culture as it relates to West Indies cricket at a critical juncture as we prepare to host the 2007 World Cup.
It is incumbent upon me as one who was integrally involved with the stewardship of the West Indies team when it dominated International cricket in the decade of the 1970s and 1980s, to proactively lead the institution of West Indies cricket to a level that will restore the pride of the Caribbean people in their beloved sport.
As such I am seeking nomination as a candidate for the Presidency of the West Indies Cricket Board. My vast experience as a player, captain, manager and ICC referee at the highest level of International cricket renders me uniquely qualified for the post.
As Captain of the West Indies team, cognisant of the importance of cricket to the Caribbean community as the single most unifying entity in our vast and varied culture, I dispelled the prevailing endemic cavalier image, created a winning attitude and moulded the team into a disciplined unit that compiled one of the most successful records in the history of Test cricket.
As a representative of the ICC, I have sought to improve the game of cricket on a global level. I have advocated for the equitable distribution of funds, television revenue, corporate sponsorship and other monies between developed and under-developed cricketing nations, essentially to benefit countries such as ours in the West Indies, which are at a major disadvantage to countries such as England, Australia and South Africa.
Since my retirement as a player, I have been involved as a consultant with cricket entities, governmental and non-governmental agencies in various countries and have fulfilled speaking engagements in India, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, Canada, the U.S.A., Zimbabwe, the United Nations and, of course, throughout the Caribbean.
As President of the West Indies Cricket Board, I would pledge to reverse the trend that has seen the erosion of the character, confidence and commitment in West Indies cricket. We must restore a sense of pride, a sense of responsibility and a sense of purpose in our game.
Our young and our veteran cricketers must appreciate the esteem of the game of cricket at the highest levels in the context of Caribbean life and the critical importance of West Indies cricket as a business entity and passionately proceed to reclaim its marquee value.
* Clive Lloyd, 60, played in 110 Test matches for the West Indies between 1966 and 1984. He captained the regional side in 74 Tests and is widely regarded as one of the most successful leaders in international cricket history.
