WICB Embarrasses Cameron Cuffy

St Vincent and the Grenadines fast bowler, Cameron Cuffy is still probably dazed and concussed from a mighty blow dealt to him by the West Indies Cricket Board while he prepared to travel to Sri Lanka with the regional senior team for the ICC Champions trophy.

The situation is that the tall pacer at the height of his focus for the tournament, heard he was dropped by way of the media. The fact is that even as Cuffy stood at the Kingstown Preparatory School to usher his son into his debut class in the Primary Schools system the WICB had already made the decision to axe him.

The WICB's decision had been made public in the Bajan press without either Cuffy or the Windward Islands Cricket Board being contacted. In fact reports say it was only on the prompting and pestering of a local journalist that the Windwards Board eventually made contact with the WICB to ascertain the status of Cuffy's place on the team.

The reports say that the Windwards Board was informed that Cuffy's passage was already booked for him to leave for Sri Lanka on Wednesday September 4th, 2002. The appearance of an article in the Barbados Nation co-written by the paper's sports editor Phillip Spooner and Tony Cozier, not only confirmed Cuffy's dropping, but the selection of Barbadian all-rounder Vasbert Drakes.

According to the reports, on being given this information the Windwards Board upon checking the WICB was told that Cuffy had in fact been dropped and the decision was only made half an hour prior to the call. However both Drakes and Chairman of Selectors Sir Vivian Richards were quoted in the Nation and on the Voice of Barbados regarding the selection more than fifteen hours before.

It was said that Drakes was selected after an injury to Cuffy and a West Indies Cricket Board change in the eligibility rule on overseas-based players. Cuffy underwent knee surgery in July, but has not had the benefit of a rehabilitation programme and Sir Vivian Richards, Chairman of the selection panel, indicated that concerns developed about Cuffy's fitness during the Red Stripe Bowl.

"Orthopaedic physician Dr Akshai Mansingh had advised the selection panel that Cuffy's knees had responded well to the surgery, but he had not been able to undertake the prescribed rehabilitation programme", Richards said. "The selection panel fearing further injury from the rigours of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka chose to replace him. I will speak to Cameron and encourage him to undertake physical fitness and conditioning training over the next few weeks, so he can be available for the tour of India".

Unfortunately, this information was not conveyed to the 31-year-old Cuffy or the Windwards Board up to the time it appeared on Tuesday. The situation took on comical proportions when it was reported that the WICB began making efforts to contact Cuffy at the Pegasus Hotel where it said he should have been, following his stint with St Vincent and the Grenadines in the 2002 Red Stripe Bowl. Reports say that Cuffy was just about leaving the Prep School with his son just after 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The reports say that not surprisingly, after failing to find the Vincentian at the Pegasus, the WICB began making attempts through the Windwards Board Office to source Cuffy's number.

It was unclear up to Thursday afternoon if Cuffy had received official notification from the regional Board. However Drakes who missed regional tournaments in recent years because of his contract with South African club, Border, last played for the West Indies seven years ago. He told journalists the WICB must be commended for relaxing the rule to allow him the opportunity to play. "Obviously I think it's a very good idea, not only for me, but this is something that the rest of people around the Caribbean Islands can benefit from", Drakes said.

Previously, the WICB stipulated that selection was dependent on availability for all matches in the regional first class and one day tournaments, but the board is now giving eligibility to players who make themselves available for a regional tournament "immediately prior to an international series".

SOURCE: St Vincent Herald.