The root of the problem
commentary by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTTI think it is amazing that only when the West Indies cricket team embarrasses the region that we start scrambling about looking for solutions for the problems, which have been around for the last fifteen years.
The root of the problem has been the WICB, period.
The dropping of Desmond Haynes for that series against Australia in 1995 and the handing over of the captaincy to Richie Richardson over the head of Haynes after the latter had taken the team to Pakistan; the treatment of Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Gordon Greenidge and Carl Hooper aided with the connivance of some players and commentators all form part of the melee.
We cannot just ignore the problems when the team win a match and feel they are world beaters. It is no use putting band-aids on bullet wounds and ignore the treatment. They would develop gangrene and invariably to lead to amputation.
The players have been out gallivanting when they win, but this is ignored and only mentioned when a situation as with the current World Cup develops.
In 1998, we had the WICB setting up a Committee to look at plans to move the sport forward. Sad to say they are still sleeping.
In 2000 there was a move across the Caribbean soliciting views on the way forward for West Indies Cricket. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we went the length and breadth of this country meeting with fans in Town Hall meetings and after weeks of doing this, compiled the information and, as was done in other Caribbean countries, submitted this to the Board.
In 2005, just prior to the West Indies cricket team heading off to Australia, the team of Bennett King, Roger Brathwaite and Tony Howard were in SVG for what was termed a Strategy Planning Meeting for the WICB. Sadly to date nothing has been made of this meeting.
I was almost dumbfounded to look on the WICB's WindiesCricket.com site last week and saw an ad inviting suggestions for the way forward for West Indies Cricket. This is just sheer crap.
I will suggest the way forward as the disbanding of the WICB, dropping of Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, and firing of Bennett King.
A committee comprising Sir Viv Richards, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Jimmy Adams, Andy Roberts, Courtney Walsh and Sir Everton Weekes set up to run the regional game.
Darren Ganga named as West Indies captain.
Digicel and Cable & Wireless excluded from West Indies Cricket.
These are my suggestions.