WICB Made Liars Out of Many

Marlon Samuels and I wish to publicly applaud the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the professional and straightforward manner in which it dealt with getting him reinstated in the W.I. 15-man squad that is currently contesting Cricket?s World Cup in South Africa. We especially wish to thank WICB president, Wes Hall, acting CEO Roger Brathwaite and cricket operations manager Michael Hall for their hands-on approach throughout the process.

With all the other issues and concerns that the ICC has had to deal with over the past couple of weeks, we are fully aware that any effort to get Marlon back in the squad could have been treated as a low priority issue. In view of this reality, we shall be forever grateful for the many phone calls that Rev. Hall placed to the highest level of the ICC, the speedy response of CEO Brathwaite after the WICB?s initial request was rejected and the tireless effort of Michael Hall in coordinating the logistics and keeping all parties fully apprised throughout the process.

Marlon is truly touched by the sincere concern that the WICB has shown for the care of his left knee. The board?s insistence that Marlon not take any chance by playing on the knee following Dr. Mansingh?s report on January 24, 2003 has registered positively in our minds. We view the board?s position as one that wishes to err on the side of caution. We appreciate that very much.

The urgency that the WICB exhibited in arranging for Marlon to travel to the United States to be examined by specialists of his and the board?s choosing was especially gratifying. Everything that was done throughout the process suggests that the leadership of the WICB had Marlon?s best interest at heart at all times.

We make no secret of the disappointment that Marlon felt when he was informed that he was being left out of the 15-man squad on the basis the selector?s reading of the initial medical report from Dr. Mansingh. Indeed, such disappointment was compounded by the fact that Marlon was feeling generally better than he had felt in a long time, despite the slight pain that he reported to management during the training camp in Antigua. Looking at the entire episode retroactively, however, we see where many positives have been derived:

1. We now have a comprehensive idea of the nature of Marlon?s problem with his knee. We also have a guide as to how to best deal with it in the coming years. Indeed, we have answers to several questions that were not addressed previously.

2. Players, fans and the cricketing world have now come to realize that the WICB is prepared to make the health and well being of its players paramount and that this philosophy will not be compromised even if it involves competing on cricket?s biggest stage without one of its brightest prospects.

3. The WICB has earned Marlon?s trust and indeed that of many other players on and off the team. We sincerely believe that the period of antagonism between the WICB and its players is something of the past.

4. The executives of the WICB have shown, without equivocation, that they are inclined to change course when facts and medical evidence justify such moves. They have made liars out of those who have accused them of being dogmatic.

We were extremely delighted with how forthcoming the WICB was after Marlon?s knee became an issue. As the matter comes to a close, we believe that there have been no losers. West Indies cricket has won. We respect the WICB as an institution and for all that it has done and continue to do for our region.

As we get deeper into the World Cup competition, let us all put our full support behind captain Hooper, chief selector Sir Vivian Richards and the entire team and root them on to many victories. May God continue to bless W.I. cricket.

* John Pinnock is the agent for Marlon Samuels. He operates the J&P Sports Marketing company, based in Baltimore, U.S.A.