Roger Brathwaite Quits

Chief executive officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Roger Brathwaite has given up the hot seat.

The WICB announced Brathwaite's resignation less than a week after sources told CaribbeanCricket.com that he was under pressure by the Ken Gordon administration to resign. Brathwaite's resignation is effective April 28, 2006.

On his way out the door, Brathwaite said he was "extremely happy with the contribution" made during his four-year tenure with the WICB.

"The Board over this period has been able to generate a profit of US$1.3 million in 2003 and US$3.6 million in 2004 stemming three years of losses. The recent securing of a multi-million dollar loan facility for the Board to assist with its cash flow crisis will allow it to operate the day to day business of the Board through until March 2007," he said.

He described the time as "quite challenging" and said he was leaving "having done the best I could within the organisation framework."

Brathwaite, who was handpicked by former WICB president Wes Hall in controversial circumstances when Gregory Shillingford was terminated in 2002, has struggled to keep pace with new president Ken Gordon's hard-nosed business management style.

Sources say Gordon is unimpressed with Brathwaite's performance and he has maintained a file with tasks he set for the CEO that were not accomplished.

In addition, the Barbadian Brathwaite is also under pressure to explain why he never kept costs under control when it was well-known that the board was heading for a severe financial crisis.

During his time as WICB CEO, Brathwaite presided over the first player strike in the history of West Indies cricket; the deterioration of the board's relationship with the players' association; the negotiation of the controversial Digicel contract; the hiring of an all-Australian coaching staff that is itself under scrutiny; and numerous instances where player salaries have not been paid on time.