Concerned Fans of West Indies Cricket

So true Mr Baptease

Recently, I returned from Japan via Miami and both stop overs showed how important sports is to both countries with the Olympics and World Cup Football in mind. On the other hand here in the Caribbean there’s little doubt that the people have become fed up and frustrated by the state of West Indies cricket given the severe trauma experienced over the last six months in particular. In fact, there is a view that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is on the verge of collapsing given the lack of care for the Sport.

Also, T&T is known of having sell out venues especially during T20 matches but recently it has struggled to compile a sizeable crowd on any of the three match days earlier this month. On the Thursday an estimated 4,500, Saturday 5,200 and finally on the Sunday 7,100 . Poor by any standard but given the appeal of cricket or lack thereof, it was a revealing comment from the public of T&T.

Similarly, the early crowd at Guyana for the 50-Over game was described as lower than expected, of course a West Indies helped matches in the second one dayer, but the signs are there for all that want to observe , that the people of the region are visibly disturbed by West Indies cricket .

Whether it is a combination of the poor play of the West Indies or the considered disgust with the West Indies Cricket Board and the recent announcement that there is no change to the WICB Management.

Such a protest unfortunately will not change the composition of the WICB , unless the territorial boards themselves wake up or are given a clarion call by those who elect them.

There is little doubt, that 90% of the population of the Caribbean are disturbed by the constant fights between the WICB and the players, and now between the WICB and the Governments, with T&T Prime Minister stating: “That West Indies cricket has been hijacked.” It is a perhaps a belief that is being echoed by many in the region .

However, it is imperative that the correlation between the loss of ranking (in Test and one day international and T20 cricket) are all related to the fact, that the West Indies team at present is playing a second string team which is struggling to cope with high quality opposition in all forms of the game.

Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree, Andre Russell, Denesh Ramdin, Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Dwayne Smith, Nicholas Pooran and Jerome Taylor are some of the players that have been missing from West Indies colours for many reasons, not least will be the treatment that they have experienced in the past. Some have even retired from the game at one level or another. Where else would a country allow 12 or 13 of their best players to walk away or be pushed out with making an effort to solve the problems that exist .

In life you need to take responsibility for your actions, and the WICB must recognize the rejection that is brought about once you mention its name. People raise their eyebrows and just shake their heads.

How can we not understand that India have become a powerhouse in cricket through the exposure of their young players have received from the IPL, and the communication between the overseas based players and the Indian players.

And yet still the WICB, has sold all of its rights for a small amount for close to 50 years to an independent body, perhaps not confident that its a great revenue earner to the WICB and the Board lack the vision and skills to operate a successful league. I sure all will agree the CPL is running a successful league at present.

Perhaps the silent stadiums, the absent crowds, the demotion of the West Indies team to 10th place in every aspect of the game, behind Bangladesh and Ireland is what is needed for the WICB authorities to realize the error in its ineffective management style

It has reached a point that it has become too much to ask people to continue the fight for West Indies cricket.

A Zebra can't change it's stripes can it? I find it very difficult to believe that this board as it is run right now will change. I firmly believe that the structure and the way the board is run will not bear any positive results. The Patterson report has to be implemented.

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Here is another move by the WICB to alienate players.
Another US vs Them scenario, I want to know what investment this board has ever put towards the development of these players and how much? Also they want to put the money in a pot so they can use it to pay contracts to players who play T20 cricket, now i'm know genius but what they are saying is that the players are going to pay themselves for playing cricket? Now what kind of stupidity is that, do these people think about what they are doing before they do it.When will it be time for this board to reform, or more accurately CEASE AND DESIST.

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Here we go again. When will it all end??????????

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HOPE👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

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All the more reason for the WICB to cease and desist.I believe that it is time to bring a suit against the WICB.

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So True Mr Matadeen,so true.

Villains yesterday, heroes today
By RENALDO MATADEEN Tuesday, April 5 2016

About that post-match. Marlon Samuels once more showed his mettle in a World T20 final.

Man-of-the-match in 2012, the same again in 2016 in Eden Gardens, India as the Windies became the first double titlists.

Completing the trifecta of world trophies this year following the U-19s and the Women’s team mere hours before. 85 from 66 balls did the trick to anchor the four-wicket win against England in chasing 155. But what ensued was a team venting frustration at critics, internationally and regionally.

“I woke up this morning with one thing on my mind. Shane Warne has been talking continuously and all I want to say is ‘this is for Shane Warne’. I answer with the bat, not the mic,” the Jamaican stated on air. A clear missive following an underlying rivalry and barrage of criticism from the famous Aussie leggie, stemming from their run-in at the 2013 Big Bash, which Warne capped with an audible rant of expletives during the match. Was Samuels’ response profane? No. He deserves every right to answer his doubters and he did so, not eloquently, but concisely. This riled the online community, more so the Brits and Australians, no doubt the majority who chastised Chris Gayle for his ‘don’t blush baby’ line at the last Big Bash.

Samuels, who also seemed to be the black sheep for a bit after denouncing the India walkout in 2013, remained focused and unperturbed throughout the tournament, not interested in celebrating or palancing until they cleared the final hurdle. It paid dividends in a tournament that featured just one hiccup against Afghanistan. The Windies were cool, calm and collected under pressure and in control every step of the way. Each game felt like theirs to throw away. South Africa, India and champs Sri Lanka were among the giants who fell.

England were chopped twice.

First by Gayle’s unbeaten 100 off 48 before Carlos Brathwaite slaughtered them with 34 off 10 in the final, including four sixes at the finale to send Ben Stokes looking for tissues. They were as convincing as ever trying to shake off those who labelled the bulk of the team, missing big names in Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo and Sunil Narine, as ‘mercenaries’.

Darren Sammy followed with a heartfelt message of unity for the camp, coach Phil Simmons and the Caribbean. All to the soundtrack of Dwayne Bravo’s song and dance for ‘Champion’.

“Lastly, I really want to thank the heads of Caricom, throughout this tournament they have been supporting the team, we’ve got emails, we’ve got phone calls, Prime Minister (Keith) Mitchell (from Grenada). He sent a very inspiring email for the team this morning … and I’m yet to hear from our own cricket board. That is very disappointing. For today, I’m going to celebrate with these 15 men and coaching staff. I don’t know when I’m going to be playing with these guys again because we don’t get selected for one-day cricket. We don’t know when we’re going to be playing T20. So this win, I want to thank you my team, I want to thank you coaching staff … everybody know West Indies are champion!” stated the embattled captain.

He referenced Simmons’ WICB suspension as well as the signing of contracts mere days before the team was slated to arrive in India.

Certainly, these words will fuel the fire and stoke the divide between the board and players.

It’s ironic that WICB Chairman of Selectors Clive Lloyd hailed T20 cricket as a developmental bonus given WICB have limited their players in this format, notably Jason Holder to the Pakistan Super League this year. Lloyd commended the lads and vowed ‘to learn the dance with some alcohol’ following the game. It parallels the castigation of Evin Lewis, also a medallist, Kevon Cooper and Rayad Emrit, who were penalised by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board this year for their Bangladesh T20 stint, yet praise poured in for the former when selected belatedly for the World T20 tournament.

There seems to be a contradictory and at-times, hypocritical stance, taken by Caribbean cricket boards with players and lines in sand need to be drawn. Players are heroes one day, villains the next. Sammy seemed to go rogue as president Dave Cameron may well say in the upcoming days but clearly he’s prepared to go out with a bang. Or four.

Problems and cracks will emerge in the upcoming months as Windies cricket often follows Murphy’s Law. What can go wrong, will. But for now, the team deserves their jubilation after a hard rally. If it’s one thing we cannot deny, it’s that this trophy has been well-earned. West Indies have colonised T20 cricket and if doing so required ‘no brains’, then one must wonder what ESPNcricinfo’s Mark Nicholas can describe the Aussies and Englishmen as.

After all, the latter’s still trying to find the balls Brathwaite dispatched.

He can team up with a lot of foreign commentators, whose condescending words about the Windies throughout this year’s tournament, have suddenly run dry. Just know, the West Indies can take talk, but what they give back, ever since the days of Sir Viv, is hard stick.

Just ask Ben Stokes.

After reading this article and listen to Sammy talk after winning the T20i finals,my feelings about Sammy has changed.My respect and admiration for him as a person,a leader has grown tremendously.
I must admit that when he was picked as captain I thought that it was for all the wrong reasons,as a player I did not think that he had a place on the team,I still believe that because that was clear to see,but what I did not see was his patriotism his dedication and his love of Caribbean Cricket,how strong those were.He has great Integrity and Honor.
Now seeing how he was treated by the same Board that has used him and then discard him I have great respect for how he has handled him self.
My hope from here is that he will carry on being a great ambassador for Caribbean Cricket.

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As I sit here contemplating what the next steps are for Caribbean Cricket I want to take this opportunity to thank all who have visited my page.So a big thank you for sharing my concern for W.I.Cricket.

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Vinode Mamchan
Published:
Friday, January 1, 2016
Former director of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dr Allen Sammy says that cricket pundits who have been attacking the board have not done their homework.

Sammy said : “Much is being written about the decline of West Indies cricket by commentators who refuse to do their homework. The latest public enemy is the West Indies Cricket Board and its poor governance suggesting that the cricketing world is leaving them behind as they twiddle their thumbs in a mindless vacuum.”

He said that the current board has highly respected professionals who have been trying their best to take the cricket out of the doldrums.

“The construct of the Board’s 18 person’s directorship is a mix of a President, Vice President, four Independent Professionals and two representatives each from six territories (12), not to be confused with 12 territorial representatives. Their agenda is Caribbean Cricket. However, they are mindful at all times that they represent shareholders and must express the views of territorial Boards and their stakeholders.

“The President and Vice President may be elected from the public at large and the four specialist directors vary with the specific skills required at any given period. At this time, these four directors are CARICOM, represented by Ricky Skerrit (St Kitts), Business represented by Don Wehby (Jamaica) and Clifford Reis (Guyana) and Banking represented by Jennifer Nero (St. Kitts).”

Sammy said information is in the public domain and those making comments should take the time and seek the information. “Google their credentials and stop the old talk about enhancing Board skills. In addition, each of the other directors brings specific academic and experiential skills honed in cricket administration.

“There is no ideal governing structure and copying even modified high profile company models may not be necessarily applicable to our 16 Caribbean cricket-playing nation’s environment (six territorial boards composed of 15 Islands and Guyana). If we accept that clubs-in-communities are the bed rock on which West Indies International cricket success has been shaped, and that this remains relevant, then the challenge is to have a strong WICB which acknowledges the centrality of vibrant territorial boards acting in unison on a common development agenda. The current board structure seeks to represent precisely this reality.

“There is talk of a more business approach to organizing and operating our cricket. In business, the output is a definable product and the bottom line is profits. In cricket the product is skilled players and the bottom line is winning. It is the territories which produce the cricketers not the WICB. The challenges then are with the 16 sovereign territories to put out or shut up. Historically, CARICOM has bobbed and weaved on their responsibilities in this regard. They still cite the construction of stadia all over the Caribbean in 2007, but where has been the collective CARICOM commitment to cricket over the past eight years?”

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