Michael Muirhead, the CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has clarified that — contrary to media reports — Phil Simmons has not yet been reinstated as the head coach of the national side.
Simmons was suspended by the WICB on September 28 after he publicly expressed his frustration for not getting the best ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour. Simmons was in London preparing to join the squad en route to Sri Lanka, but instead received an email from Muirhead informing him of the suspension.
“There has been no formal reinstatement,” Muirhead told ESP Ncricinfo from Antigua.
Muirhead confirmed that he had a meeting with Simmons and his attorney on October 21.
West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree will miss the two T20 matches to be played in Sri Lanka later this month as he has contracted the dengue fever.
Badree speaking to Guardian Media yesterday said: “I have contracted dengue fever and have contacted the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and informed them that I will be unable to travel to Sri Lanka to play the T20s.” West Indies will face Sri Lanka in two matches, the first being on Monday, November 9 at Pallekele and the second on Thursday, November 12 at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Badree was expected to be a major weapon for the West Indies in the series, as he bowled brilliantly in the finals of the World T20, in 2012, when the West Indies defeated Sri Lanka at home.
Dave Cameron is by no means totally satisfied. But you can tell from his general demeanour that he's growing more confident about the financial fortunes of West Indies cricket.
Based on Cameron's mien, and against the background of the US$42-million squabble between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it was inevitable that the Jamaica Observer would pose the question: Is the WICB solvent?
"Absolutely," Cameron, the WICB president, answered without hesitation.
"The West Indies Cricket Board this year will turn a surplus, and I use the word very carefully, because it's not profit, it's a surplus in excess of US$2 million," Cameron told last Thursday's sitting of the Jamaica Observer Press Club.
"We currently have a deficit of about US$5 million, but our business model says that we will be able to continue to be in business and be able to wipe out that deficit within three years," he added.
They come out most nights just around nine o'clock and they might be there until about 11. They are extremely loud. But it is one of the most beautiful noises to fill the night air; because it is the unamplified sound of happiness.
I love to hear the footballers who turn out to run some ball under the lights of the Aranjuez Savannah. Amid the backdrop of the dull thud of boot on ball, they shout and scream, and laugh, and throw picong and cheers with the same generosity of spirit. The abundance of energy and joie de vivre is so infectious that even those of us perched on the periphery of the grounds are doused with it.
It brings pleasure to the chore of washing dishes, simply because when I stand at the kitchen sink I can see them, often barebacked, exuding all the vitality of youth, and I feel happy that in these nightly games they are finding a wholesome way to enjoy being alive. More so, amid their good-natured jostling and competition, they represent the true spirit of community.
RECOMMENDATION FOR changes to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TT CB) constitution, which were put forward by the Dinanath Ramnarine- led National League Representatives (NLR) were voted against at the TT CB Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday evening.
The closed door meeting, at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, was attended by 47 of the 49 members and lasted from 3.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
Three of the major recommendations regularly championed by NLR namely — one club and one vote system; elimination of outgoing votes; and terms limits for presidents were defeated 25-14, 26-16 and 26-12 respectively.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, TT CB president Azim Bassarath gave his and the Board’s take on how the meeting played out, while also touching on issues that were mentioned by NLR in the media over the past month.
“It was a long exhausting meeting, the longest part was the three hours of deliberation over the constitution. I think there were some people who came prepared to support recommendations from Mr Ramnarine.
