T&T To Replace Bishop as Chief Selector

Former Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop is to be replaced as chairman of the senior selection panel for the 2002/2003 cricket season.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (T&TCBC) plans to name a replacement for Bisthop at its annual general meeting, scheduled for October 26.

According to sources close to the local board, Bishop has indicated his unavailability to serve for the forthcoming season, without stating any specific reasons.

Bishop is currently doing television commentary for the India and West Indies Test and One-Day series, now taking place in India.

The T&TCBC executive will also have to search for a coach and manager for the T&T team, which will take part in next year?s Busta Cup series.

Bishop, who managed the team in the 2002 Busta Cup series and was the Technical Manager in the recently concluded Red Stripe Bowl series in St Lucia and Jamaica, will also be unavailable to take up any managerial or technical positions in the new season.

Former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons, who performed the duties as coach of the national senior team for the past few seasons, could also be bypassed for the job.

The ex-national captain was granted permission by the local board to be relieved of his duties as T&T coach in this year?s Red Stripe Bowl series.

Simmons now resides in the United Kingdom.

In related news, the T&TCBC has cut their training squad to 36 players, following the unexpected retirement of middle-order batsman Richard Smith.

The training sessions are being conducted by Anthony Gray and Roland Sampath.

* from Guyana Chronicle.