Shame and Scandal in West Indies

"Woe is me! Shame and scandal in the family."

For too long we have watched the performance of our team slide to depths too low to imagine and did precious little. Today, we moan, groan, hang our heads in shame and even threaten to disown our "cricketing children" if not erase them from our last will and testament.

What do we have ? all out for 47; 51; 54; and 61. All this carnage occurred between 1998 and 2004. Do we know of any positive action taken to ensure improved performance? No! Lots of talk, even "long talk" but no known corrective action.

Since 1998, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) raised the subject of performance-related pay but has gotten no further. Meanwhile, even if only because of the presence of West Indies Players? Association, (WIPA) pay packets have grown. Can you imagine this happening in a company in North America, and the management team being able to survive?

We learn that Rawle Brancker, chairman of International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc., has gone for the heads of the manager and coach, whilst Minister of Sport, Reginald Farley, calls on WICB to take swift and decisive action.

The above gentlemen are persons with much exposure to business and its exacting culture, as is president of WICB, E. H. C "Teddy" Griffith. So too is Roger Brathwaite, chief executive officer and a former senior executive of Shell.

We mention this because we feel that nothing less than what would be the fate of top executives in any efficient company should be the lot of management.

Having said that, there are other factors worthy of consideration. Is the best available management team in place?

Does the team's performance over the last three years evidence this? What factors would have contributed to the WICB's failure to have put in place the very best people available, whether West Indian or non-West Indian.

Do the players, management and the directors of WICB Inc., understand the damage done to the West Indian psyche, but moreso to the potential for improved sponsorship, so badly needed to enable West Indies cricket to have all the necessary personnel and equipment in place?

Turning to the accusations of partying, is this the first time players were known to have been carousing before, during or after an unsatisfactory performance?

Can WICB tell us of instances where stringent punitive measures have been imposed?

Because we do not know of such action being taken, it leads us to ask whether the players' contracts include a clause which sets out the action contemplated for indiscretions?

How much longer does WICB leadership intend to allow Brian Lara to continue his oft repeated solo "we have to put this behind us and move on?" Is Gus Logie's entreaty for a higher level of discipline, a suitable prescription for an unresponsive patient?

There is need for an enquiry into the state of our cricket. Who is in charge? The selector, the coach or the captain? Pray tell us!

* SOURCE: Barbados Nation editorial.