ACT RESPONSIBLY!
That’s what the embattled West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) wants from the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), and its president, Dinananth Ramnarine.
In a strongly worded release yesterday, the WICB, through its Chief Executive Officer Dr Ernest Hilaire, was highly critical of WIPA 24 hours after receiving an unsigned letter on behalf of West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
In the letter, Chanderpaul threatened to sue the WICB because of comments made by Hilaire concerning the lack of discipline and application with the regional team in the past decade and a half.
Chanderpaul, a Guyanese, who remains the boys in maroon’s second most capped player behind legendary batting maestro Brian Lara, felt that Hilaire had finger-pointed him, and had threatened to take any legal recourse necessary to clear his name.
It all started when Hilaire conducted an interview on the Line and Length Network. The interview focussed on the myriad of problems currently facing West Indies cricket.
But yesterday, the WICB responded to the star player’s claims by reiterating their committment to senior players inspite of Chanderpaul, fellow Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan, and former captain Chris Gayle’s non selection for any matches in the ongoing Digicel home series against Pakistan. The newlook Windies squad trails Pakistan 0-3 in the ODI series, with two matches remaining.
“The WICB has informed Chanderpaul that he has been and remains a valued member of the West Indies first team squad and looks forward to his continued involvement with West Indies cricket,” Hilaire said.
“The WICB expresses disappointment that WIPA appears to be intent on using every opportunity to cause disaffection in West Indies cricket, and is not averse to offering ill advice to players to achieve this end. The WICB urges WIPA once again to act in the best interest of West Indies cricket and the players,” the CEO noted.
Hilaire said the names of players were not mentioned during the interview, and the comments were based on reports and public comments made by previous coaches. According to the WICB boss, the board was extremely concerned about the way in which WIPA continued to do business, since even before the Chanderpaul letter was received by the WICB, the media were seeking comments.
The CEO explained in a letter to Chanderpaul that he cannot comment on what is said or reported by popular website ESPNCricinfo, and referred WIPA and Chanderpaul to the excerpts of the interview which had been published on the board’s official website (windiescricket.com) to ascertain the full content and context of the remarks made. (BA)
