WICB Studying LICA Report on Morton

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is investigating Runako Morton's premature departure from the West Indies? tour schedule in Sri Lanka.

Morton stunned his family in Nevis last week when he returned home after telling the team's management that his grandmother had died. It was revealed subsequently that one of his grandmothers is still alive in Antigua and the other died 16 years ago.

According to a report in the Guyana Chronicle, WICB director Carlisle Powell submitted a report to the WICB after having dialogue with the talented 24-year-old middle-order batsman.

"I have met with Runako on a few occasions and met with some persons surrounding him as well, his immediate family, members of the Nevis Cricket Association (NCA), and I've submitted a report to the WICB," Powell said.

Powell said the embattled Morton had also sent "correspondence" to the WICB but declined further comment on the investigations because he was awaiting a release from the WICB.

Powell, who is also president of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA), said there is significant local support for Morton.

"He has been getting a tremendous amount of support from the local community; we have arranged some counselling for him," Powell said.

Morton arrived back in the Caribbean last Thursday after being allowed to leave the tour to address his personal "bereavement".

It is not his first negative brush with the WICB. Last year, Morton was expelled from the Shell Cricket Academy in Grenada because of disciplinary reasons but he revived his career with selection for the one-day international series with Pakistan earlier this year in Sharjah after a Busta Cup century and two fifties.