Joel Primus

nylcolumnguardian@yahoo.com

WICB lacking leadership

Here is the plan. First we need a financier and it must be someone who is a good administrator and has a track record of performance.

Personally, my nominee is Jack Warner. I know a lot of you may not agree with me but the man is the FIFA vice president and you have not yet heard the whole plan.

The next thing we need to do is secure a venue. I say no problem—Guaracara Park. Again Mr Warner will be able to assist us with any infrastructural work that may be necessary in the short to medium-term.

Next we need teams. Mr Warner, I am aware, is a gentleman of international acclaim and a man to whom many favours are owed, by his own admission. I am sure he would be able to use his bargaining power to attract a couple of overseas teams to our shores.

Who are they playing, you ask? Of course my good friend, the Prince of Port-of-Spain, Brian Charles Lara and his six friends. Throw in a Mervyn Dillon, the young Simmons chap, Ramdin, a Smith here, a Ramnarine there, and a couple fellas from Clark Road and we have a team.

The clencher

With the brilliance of Lara and the astute management of Warner —whenever whoever comes to Trinidad to play whatever (Test or one-day)—we will be having a game down at Guaracara, complete with the man with the flag, Dobson’s roti, and some oildown.

Honestly, do you think we will not pull a crowd? Do people not stand on the hillsides outside cricket grounds all over the region to see a game? Do scalpers make money? Do pirates sell CDs? The answer for me is an emphatic “yes.”

Cutting off your nose

Forgive me if I am not a Tony Cozier on the matter but please listen to my piece of bush logic. If Digicel has a $20 million sponsorship package and our “best team” without internationally renowned current and upcoming stars, will they not be guilty of cutting off their nose to spoil their face?

I know they are foreigners so someone should translate this little saying for them. In other words, will they not be getting less than the best which their sponsorship money can afford?

Further, to those knowledegable men who run the WICB, before my dream of cricket in the south becomes a reality, are you not cheating yourself of your potential gate receipts, shortchanging the team that is fielded.

What really hurts me though is that after failed attempts at federation, as we strive for CSME, as the mother country challenges the CCJ, the only existing institution, the only thread in the fabric of regional unification, these fellas are toying with.

And lest the reader misunderstands, by Caribbean or regional unity I do not refer to those loose associations that are forged through the university. I do not refer to the heads of government meetings where the politicians get together to consider our future.

By unity I mean the one place where we all coexist, we the people on the rocks in the sea, the people who keep the bananas growing and the oil flowing. The grassroots as we are affectionately called.

Reality

Within recent times the entire Caribbean and West Indies cricket fans have been plunged into controversy and uncertainty on the future of cricket in the region.

It has left many questions on the lips of the fans, commentators and leaders as to the modus operandi of the WICB, as well as the sponsors and the players.

Of particular concern is the stability and mental composure of the players ahead of the first Test against South Africa, scheduled to begin on March 31.

With 13 days to go before the start of the Test series, one is left to wonder what has gone wrong?

Too much it would seem. As a matter of fact, it appears that the WICB’s agenda is to see the regional team not achieve success.

Clearly, the matters pertaining to the contracts involving the WICB, Digicel, Cable and Wireless and the players are no easy ones. The fact remains that seven players including the world best/greatest cricketer Brian Lara has in their possession personal endorsement contracts with C&W.

However, what we disagree with is the unilateral decision by the board, which we consider premature, to announce that the seven players would be dropped from the team.

As young citizens—and we are sure our comrades throughout the region would agree—our view is that such behaviour speaks of the incompetence of grown men posing as stewards at the helm of such an important institution.

Moreover, it is felt that reason and dialogue should have been been the way to go. In fact, this writer is well aware of the fact that Ambassador Brian Lara had issued a statement calling for “compromise” in which he appealed for “give and take” on the issue.

“The WICB repeat their assurance to the people of the West Indies that they are committed to develop West Indies cricket for the benefit of the fans and all the players throughout the region” (Newsday, March 14).

Amazingly, though, this well-worded but yet cheap rhetoric comes a little too late. As such it is our view that not very many people, fans and players, have much confidence, if any, in the current WICB.

This explosive period in West Indies cricket history leaves one to wonder to what extent the “management style” of the WICB would have had on the performance of players over the last six years.

It seems as though West Indies cricket has been overtaken by selfishness and vain individualism. This most glorious sport which over the years has brought unity to the Caribbean is threatened by what appears to be the egos and political ambitions of power-staved individuals.

We wish to extend our arms of support and solidarity to all players, particularly our very own star Brian Lara and the six other cricketers. Therefore it would be remiss if this article did not request that the WICB do the honourable and facilitate a speedy resolution.

Contact NYL with comments at nylcolumnguardian@yahoo.com or Editorial Committee, National Youth League, Balisier House, #1 Tranquillity St, Port-of-Spain.

Joel Primus is chairman of the PNM’s National Youth League