No quick pick

IT WON’T be business as usual for the West Indies selectors.In an effort to turn around the declining fortunes of the regional team, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is in the process of preparing a selection policy document that is aimed at getting the selectors to come up with the best possible team.The WICB made the disclosure in announcing the appointment of former Barbados captain Courtney Browne as a new member of its senior selection panel.Browne replaces Trinidadian Raphick Jumadeen on the committee in which Clyde Butts will continue as chairman with Robert Haynes as the other member.“Against the background that the performance of the West Indies team has been disappointing and unsatisfactory, the board has undertaken to prepare a selection policy document,” the WICB said.“This document will include clear guidelines pertaining to the direction in which the WICB will take with regard to the selection of West Indies teams.“Upon its completion the selection policy document will be provided to chairman Butts and his selection panel in order to aid and guide the panel in the execution of its mandate.”The WICB noted that the previous panel faced immense challenges when several players were injured or unfit, causing them to be unavailable for important engagements. The board recognised that these situations undoubtedly hampered the panel in selecting the best possible West Indies team at all times.Browne’s appointment followed a recommendation by a review committee that comprised WICB chief executive officer Dr Ernest Hilaire, chairman of the WICB cricket committee Joel Garner, former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd and WICB chief cricket operations officer, Tony Howard. The review committee interviewed several candidates, including all three of their nominees before arriving at their final recommendations.The 39-year-old Browne, chairman of the Barbados selection panel for the past two years, said he considered the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket in the esteemed capacity as an honour and privilege.“It is a privilege to be afforded the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket again. I feel honoured and I will put my best foot forward,” he said.He said the fact that he was still actively involved in the game would be an asset.“I would have played cricket with some of the players who are still in the West Indies team and there is a lot more involved in cricket now and so I think I will be able to relate to the players a lot better,” Browne said.The new panel, which was appointed at a recent WICB directors meeting, will serve for a two-year term ending on July 31, 2012.It is the second successive term that Butts will be chairman.“I thank the WICB for a new term on the selection panel. I’m pleased as well to be reappointed chairman of the selection panel and I am confident that we will work closely as a group as we continue on a restructuring pathway,” Butts said.“I welcome Courtney to the panel and look forward to working with him and Robert, along with head coach Ottis Gibson as we put our best efforts together to move West Indies cricket forward.” (HG/PR)