Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s recent rift with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has left uncertainty surrounding the staging of the third Test match against India at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The Indians are carded to tour the West Indies from July 14 to August 11 for a series of four Tests with the third scheduled for T&T from July 28 to August 1.

However, officials at the WICB believe that Dr Rowley’s recent calls for the dissolution of the organistion, could signal that his government will not be supporting the Test being played in Trinidad.

Following the Caricom Heads of government meeting in Belize three weeks ago, Dr Rowley noted the deterioration of West Indies cricket and its lack of proper management. He said this was discussed by Caricom Heads and based on these discussions, it was felt that there was nothing more to gain from talks with the WICB.

WICB officials say that this statement is certain to be on Dr Rowley’s mind when the local T&T Cricket Board attempts to hold negotiations with the government to stage the Test.

 

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Finally - men get serious

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

We'll just shift the game to the brand spanking new Dr. Rowdy endorsed Brian Lara Stadium.

Sorry, that facility won't be ready until September.

In reply to Chrissy

Each territory must adopt the same stance, so if the WICB want to pull the Oval Test, there must no alternative for them to shift it somewhere else, they should be rejected by all the territories.

Security, stadiums, transportation and other logistic needs to stage a test match is provided by governments, if this is pulled, it means the WICB will be crippled.

Why dis blasted Trinidad like to lead from d front so
Stewwwps

In reply to Emir

That would leave them with no alternative but to host the game in the USA.

Imagine the billing associated with the Coming to America of Test Cricket. Cameron the hero again.

In reply to Drapsey

I guarantee you they cannot host in the USA- the cost for a test match along with other logistics including the fact there is only one ground that is ICC approved means this is not an option for test or multiple ODI games.

In additon, the power of CARICOM to convince the local government in the Florida jurisdiction TO not allow the WICB to play in return for better things to come, post WICB, is very easy to do.

In reply to Emir

Exactly they just can't shift the test to the US.
All the governments should do the same thing. and be serious about it.
The WICB have to even agree and sit down with CARICOM to make sure that their voices are being heard.
I guess that's just one good thing with the stadiums being owned by the government we can point to in recent times.

while I like the approach, I hope this does not backfire - by killing cricket altogether in the WI - there's no high confidence that Caribbean Govts are capable of engineering a better alternative

In reply to Curtis

I don't think it will kil cricket I don't see the PM's being as stubborn and hard-headed as the WICB chiefs. So they'll try to compromise for the sake of cricket. Remember they are answerable to the people of the Caribbean, unlike the WICB chiefs.
So let's see how this plays out
Still though drastic measures for drastic times.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

not the way forward. needs dialogue.

In reply to jcveletta

With who?

Didn't the WICB already seh dem naah chat to nuhbaddy?

Only WIPA..as WIPA is the only authorized body to talk to them about the players..and I guess the ICC and their masters the BCCI..but they wont talk to anybody else!!

In reply to Halliwell

Which country is being serious about this?

Why are you castigating this move ?

It would be sanctioned by you if it was being done from any other country but Trinidad and Tobago , it would seem .

In reply to Cornfused

You are...obviously cornfused by the sarcasm

Jamaica should seek to fill the vacant slot left by T&T!

God knows the country could do well with the tourists' dollars!

In reply to XDFIX

And put dem ATM withdrawal in jeopardy?

Dr. Rowdy rules.

In reply to Halliwell

You say its sarcasm only when pointed out , nothing you wrote Capps , Font , annotations spoke of sarcasm , not more than another poster complaining on Trinidad and Tobago .

I love it I love it!! There is never a dull moment in this region...cricket wise...

If they give India the shitty end of the stick again, that could be the end of WI and India. You just cannot invite the team to tour and then they are out Millions of Dollars again without just cause.
Is that 42.3 Mil still hanging over the WIndies head?

In reply to Chrissy

the board want to treat the governments just like the players.

In reply to methodic

India not playing in T&T is like the English not playing in Barbados.

It seems the Caricom leaders were as one at their meeting.

Wait and see how it plays out.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Rowley made the comments coming out of the CARICOM meeting and were not his personal comments.

And WICB is making threats which should be criticized by all CARICOM governments

Dave Cameron threatening again. In fact the Trinidad government has never had anything to do with the queens park oval and are not In any way needed for test cricket.i don't believe they have ever had anything to do with test cricket which was always an oval/ wicb arrangement,

In fact I believe it was dave Cameron who said governments shouldn't have anything to do with management of international cricket. In addition Dr Rowley merely repeated the decisions of the Caricom Governments and made no mention of the Oval and made no threats to withdraw anything. Because he had not committed anything.

So this statement by WICB is simply the threat being made by dangerous dave Cameron who really is unfit to govern any Caribbean institution.

If the test match is not going to be allowed T&T government should give the WICB ample notice so that they can make other plans for the match.

A last minute decision will cause more chaos and I am sure the touring team will need guarantees regarding players security, accommodation etc. etc. before committing to tour...

In reply to Kay

Trinidad government has said nothing like that and are not the oval authority anyway. This is a preemptive threat from Cameron NOT Trinidad government.

In reply to XDFIX

Hello! Not sure which hole you live in but Jamaica receives close to 2 million tourist each year and not counting cruise ship passengers, who just buy a t-shirt but visitors to the many luxury, all-inclusive resorts especially along the scenic north coast. Not sure if a small group of visiting cricketers would be considered significant to JA world reknown tourism industry.

In reply to doublecentury

I agree with what you stated . Cameron obviously thinks that he is an Emperor , but he is standing in front of the People in the Region Stark Naked .

It is time that he is told that he aint wearing any freaking Clothes .Frankly
I do not recall that he, Owners of the Queens Park Oval , have the following ,
A Police Department ; A
Fire Department etc . These are vital
Services that are necessities at Public Gatherings .

It is interesting that he was dictating to the BCCI that he wanted ODI Matches , but the BCCI turned that down . He therefore had to accept what he was given .

Never in the annals of West Indies Cricket , has the WORST INTERNATIONAL
CRICKET BOARD IN THE COMMONWEALTH ,
aka the WICBC been saddled by such a Pompous , Arrogant Man .

what venues are the Indians demanding?

In reply to doublecentury

Recently the WICB preferred method is to have regional governments bid against each other for right to host cricket.

In reply to Slipfeeler

The fact that u are outside the hole, wats your point? Jamaica needs all the tourist dollars it can get!

That's the kind of narrow mindedness that is killing us! Think since u r outside the hole, bro!

ALL TESTS SHOULD BE IN DANGER!!!

ALL!!! EVERYONE!!!

In reply to Larr Pullo


No test should be in danger, but if any, let it be Trinidad since Crowly want to take a stance!

In reply to XDFIX

ALL TESTS IN THE WI SHOULD BE IN DANGER!!! Once they are being put on by the WICB!!!

In reply to Larr Pullo

I beg to disagree! NONE!!

Let the Caribbean governments focus on national security, promotion of the general welfare of its citizens as well as securing liberty, and justice for all

Crime in Trinidad right now is at an all time high!

Unemployment in Jamaica is sky high

Barbados running out of foreign reserve

Guyana infrastructure is rotten to the core

Lots of problems, in fact too many for governments to be focusing on cricket

In reply to XDFIX

elaborate

In reply to doosra

Roads, bridges, electricity, schools, hospitals, ports, transportation, etc could do with a lot of brushing up, no?

In reply to XDFIX

but brushing up is not what you do with "rotten infrastructure", is it?

Dave's mouthpiece on a rampage on this thread sah

In reply to doosra

I use the term 'rotten to the core' to speak to the urgency of the situation - It's waste of time for the governments of the region to be focusing on cricket at this time! Shouldn't be a priority issue, except apparently for Crowly!!

In reply to imusic

Huh? All I am saying, the governments have more important things to do. Dave is a Yardie and therefore can speak eloquently for himself. He doesn't need a mouthpiece

In reply to XDFIX

boy you hit the nail on the head. I really didn't believe it have regular people will talk so 'you know'. I thought was Cameron himself 'yes'.

In reply to Halliwell

I thought it was St.Vincent who first raised all this as Rowley himself said. But who cares who is first second or third? oh yes..Titties do