WICB DIRECTOR TO RESIGN

Even as the West Indies Cricket Board ( WICB) prepare for a critical Board meeting in Antigua Today ( Sunday) , one director of the WICB is hinting that he has enough and will only serve one more year , then retire from WICB administration.

Chetram Singh, President of the Guyana Cricket Board, has been a member of the WICB since 1991 and admits “All good things come to an end and really and truly my plan is really to serve out my term which ends next year and retire from top administration, after all it is 17 -18 years, this has been part of my life.”

“That is my present plan, and I believe it is time to give other people a chance to serve , 18 years would be a very long time to devote to any administration…”said Singh

Questioned on the possibility of being nominated for the Presidency of the WICB again, after an aborted nomination three years ago, Singh responded “No I am no seeking presently any other position in the future in my present state of mind.”

But he admits that incumbent President of the WICB, Kenneth Gordon may be on his way out,” Yes, Ken Gordon offered his resignation last week Friday, but we discussed it and we rejected it at the moment. Brian Lara has already resigned , Bennett King has given notice that he wants to resign, and we thought that was enough at the time , so that is Elections (of a New President) are less than two months away, and if he does not want to seek elections okay, but nothing could change in a few months.”

“As to the future, let us wait until the meeting on Sunday is concluded, but I expect there to be fair discussions and straight talk on Sunday,” remarked the wily Singh.

Singh was also surprised about the announcement on Monday, that the team and captain would be announced on Wednesday gone,” I do not know, how this could have stated, as the appointment of a captain must be done by a Board meeting, and that was scheduled for Sunday, so it could not happen before Sunday, and therefore why say Sunday, as they knew the recommendation had to come before us on Sunday.”

“My understanding is that after the meeting on Monday (23rd April, 2007) with the Cricket Committee, Selection Committee, the President and some other members of the Board, the selectors met on Monday afternoon and nominated a captain, whom will have to be approved now by the Board on Sunday,” he revealed.

And while Singh admits that insularity exists elsewhere in the region, he believes that WICB members have the interest of West Indies cricket at heart in their decision making,” I don’t think Insularity is so heavy at the Board level, we think of West Indies cricket and not where we come from, that is why you are now a West Indies Director and not a delegate from your country…so that, this does not come up as much..It has not reared its face as often as it reared itself in the past,”

Singh also believes that there are three main contenders for the Captaincy role with the West Indies team following the shock retirement on Saturday 21^st April of Brian Charles Lara

“There are three names which have been mentioned, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga and Chris Gayle,” noted Singh.

“I believe that a lot of what is being said about Sarwan’s discipline record is related to things that happen in the past , when he was not a leader of the team and not a senior player , that has changed, and he has done good work with the Guyana national team demonstrating a lot of maturity , he has improved…”

“ Brian lara demonstrated that as a player , even if you are not the captain, you must be willing to play on the team under any leader and I hope that any member of the West Indies team realize this , there is no must that you have to captain, so I do not foresee any problems , whoever is the captain,”

“If there is any player on the team, who is not discipline, then they should be dropped, we cannot tolerate this,”he added.

The veteran West Indies administrator while admitting that the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) is a necessary body and that the WICB encouraged the formation of this body many years ago, still believes that WIPA has “being taking away nearly every cent from the WICB, and therefore not allowing the WICB to be able to have enough funds available for the development of cricket in the various territories.”

“But most likely in a year or two with the development of the retainer contracts and other programmes, all of these situations should be over,” said Singh.

Singh though has one major concern” The future does not look bright; we have not achieved a high enough standard among the second tier of players in the region. Just look at the regional tournaments, sometimes a player has one good year and then the next year, he fails, the consistency is not there … our coffers are empty and there lies the problem.”

 

:: AB