WICB: 'Sarwan critical to our future plans'

WICB CEO Dr. Donald Peters has reiterated the board's commitment to injured captain Ramnaresh Sarwan. Sarwan has been sidelined following an ankle injury which prevented him from competing in the KFC Cup, and from taking his place in the side that left for Zimbabwe.

"We are going to continue with the leadership development and mental fitness programme that we started with the players who were short-listed for the Zimbabwe and South Africa tours," Peters said following his presentation on December 4th to the Association of Caribbean Media Workers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr Peters discussed the team and leadership building programme that the board had put in in conjunction with the University of the West Indies, and singled out Sarwan. "He continues to be critical to our future plans both as a player and a leader." He went on to say that although Sarwan had "no problems playing with Gayle as captain" the board felt that he should focus on a complete recovery in preparation for the 2008 home series against Sri Lanka and Australia.

Currently Sarwan is "working full time on his fitness", and is also working with the WICB to identify an internship at a university in the USA.