Pat Rousseau in the Running
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has pushed back its annual general meeting to August 7 to allow regional directors more time to nominate a presidential candidate.
The meeting, originally scheduled for July 16 in St Maarten, was postponed by a unanimous resolution of the members. The constitution of the WICB provides for nominations to be submitted not less than 30 days before the date of the AGM.
The post of vice president, currently held by Anguillan banker Val Banks, is also up for nomination.
Some directors have publicly made it clear that outgoing president Teddy Griffith did not give them enough time to try to find a consensus candidate. Griffith announced on June 9 that he would not make himself available for re-election, citing "personal and family considerations."
When the original deadline for nominations expired Thursday afternoon, no nominations for either post had been submitted to the WICB.
Two candidates, Tony Marshall and Clive Lloyd have publicly expressed interest in the position.
The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has been calling around seeking support for Marshall but Trinidad?s insistence on businessman Ken Gordon has put a crimp in any momentum for Marshall?s candidacy.
Guyana?s cricket chief Chetram Singh is quoted in the local media as saying his board will not be making a nomination but sources tell CaribbeanCricket.com that Guyana has floated the name of Steve Comacho, the former opener who served for many years as the board?s executive secretary.
Jamaica is pushing hard for Pat Rousseau and there is a strong possibility that the former board president could emerge as the frontrunner for the post.
?It?s between Rousseau and Ken Gordon. Both men will only run if they are unopposed so it?s now a case of wheeling and dealing to come up with full support,? a well-place source said late Friday.
Guyana and Trinidad are in Gordon?s corner while Jamaica and the Leewards will back Rousseau. The wild card could be the two votes from the Windward Islands.
Other names making the rounds are Deryck Murray and Mike Findlay.
The six territorial boards that make up the WICB will cast two votes each. The outgoing president and VP (Val Banks) also own votes as Class B shareholders, meaning there are a total of 14 votes up for grabs.