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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 7, 2016
WICB needs to take responsibility for the fall of WI cricket - Sarwan By Stephan Sookram
FORMER West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan has taken a swipe at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over its alleged misconduct and mistreatment of players for the recently concluded World T20 tournament. The 35-year-old Guyanese, a former skipper of the Maroon side, stood by current T20 skipper Darren Sammy, whose comments suggested that there are more than words to mince between the board and the players. During the ICC World Cup T20 winners’ post-match presentation, Sammy, who has now won the tournament twice, lashed out at the WICB over what he deems as ‘disrespect’. And Sarwan, who succeeded Brian Lara in 2007 as captain of the ODI Team, congratulated both the men and women for their performances but made his support of Sammy in this case crystal clear, saying “I think (Darren) Sammy was spot on in his interview.” “Over the years, the West Indies board, especially the directors and administrators, whatever you want to call them, tended to do a
Ramnaresh Sarwan at yesterday’s press briefing
lot of stuff and get away with it and during the period that I’ve played, we’ve struck a lot trying to highlight those areas that they have erred, and nothing seems to be changing,” continued the player. He continued his onslaught on the board, saying that overtime they have been utilising the ‘big stick’ approach in dealing with matters and not having proper communication with all stakeholders, including the players. Sarwan, who is preparing for a return to the Caribbean Premier League this year, with Trinidad Franchise Trinbago Knight Riders contended, “WICB needs to take responsibility for the fall for WI cricket.” “I don’t think it’s a situation that we are lacking of talent; It’s just that we don’t have the right people managing our cricket; And how long we don’t get that, I don’t think that we will be able to rise again,” said ‘Ronnie’. “We cannot have so many talented players in the Caribbean and not be in the top four teams in the world, (for Test and ODI),” said Sarwan, who still averages over 40 in both formats.
Known for his precise and confident footwork, the batsman kept in-step on his blitzing of the WICB, especially as it relates to the local administrators, saying “We (Guyana) have a situation where we have not had a proper election (GCB) for four or five years and yet the West Indies Cricket Board is supporting whoever is in charge.” “If all parties are calling for elections, I don’t see why there shouldn’t be an election (GCB)?” questioned Sarwan. The Guyanese further showed his support for the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) intervention in West Indies Cricket, saying that for too long, players have been stifled by the Board. “I like the initiative that CARICOM is taking to try and resolve the problem. I think once CARICOM gets involved and they put their foot down then I think that they will find some sort of solution.” Sarwan has been very critical of the board with their history dating back to 2011 when he won $161 000 in damages from the WICB following statements about his fitness.
HACC Under-19s thump Blairmont ‘A’ JUST over a month since resuscitation, the Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) Under-19 team have already made an impact in the recently launched New York Business Group one-day two-innings tournament for teams in Berbice. Playing against a more seasoned Blairmont ‘A’ side recently, HACC made light work of their opponents, thumping them by a massive 128 runs to gain their first outright victory. The game was highlighted by a helmet-trick from HACC’s Adim Shewtahal and leg-spinner Lenardo Seetayah, who were almost unplayable in Blairmont’s second innings. Batting first, HACC Under-19s reached a formidable 208 all out with A. Khalid leading the way with an unbeaten 56 while D. Bishun, D. Samuels and R.
Somwaru supported with 48, 37 and 27 respectively. Blairmont could muster only 86 all out in their first knock, conceding a lead of 122 with Z. Inshan (38) and K. Gangoo (20) being the principal scorers. Seetayah grabbed four for 19, Somwaru two for 20 and Shewtahal one for 13. Hunting quick runs in their second innings, HACC declared at 55 for nine, setting Blairmont 178 for a possible comefrom-behind win. Blairmont were however routed for a paltry 43 with Shewtahal being the chief destroyer with five for 10 while Somwaru claimed two for 18 and Setayah one for 13. It will be recalled that the HACC Under-19 team’s resuscitation was spurred by the success of their more illustrious senior side based in Toronto, Canada who have
The chief destroyers: Adim Shewtahal and Lenardo Seetayah been riding a crest of wave with six consecutive wins in the Scarborough Cricket Association Premiere League. HACC president Narchand ‘Archie’ Mohan, who was recently in Guyana, was instrumental in getting the club back on track after it was established some 20 years ago
in his hometown, Cotton Tree, West Bank Berbice. The competition is being sponsored by a group of overseas Guyanese businessmen of New York, USA and jointly organised by Albion Community Centre and the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB).
Windies board the ‘most unprofessional in the world’, says Bravo ( R E U T E R S ) - Wo r l d Twenty20 winner Dwayne Bravo has accused the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of being “the most unprofessional board in the world”. Three days after the team’s Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy criticised the WICB following his side’s thrilling four-wicket win over England in Kolkata, all-rounder Bravo was even more scathing as he also accused the board’s president Dave Cameron, of being an
DWAYNE BRAVO
“immature”, “small-minded” and “arrogant” person. “A lot of people come down on the players. They questioned our commitment, they questioned whether we were really committed to West Indies cricket or is it just the money,” Bravo, who along with his team mates has been involved in a long-running pay dispute with the WICB, told Trinidad & Tobago television network CNC3. “A lot of people don’t
understand the things we go through as players dealing with our board. It is the most unprofessional board in the world to me. Sammy spoke from his heart. There is nothing wrong with Sammy’s speech and I support Darren Sammy 100 percent. “The entire team support him and it’s a matter of us as players feeling hurt and the time has come where we can’t take it anymore and someone needs to put a stop to it because the cricket is being run by peo-
ple who do not have West Indies cricket’s interest at heart.” The 32-year-old added the players’ kit was not ready when they arrived in India for the World Twenty20. “We get to India, our names were not even printed on the uniforms,” said Bravo, who was stripped of the West Indies captaincy two years ago after leading a players’ strike that resulted in them returning early from a tour of India. “Our manager had to
leave our camp to get names and numbers printed while in India. We played this entire tournament without caps. “Our cricket has gone to the lowest. Yes, we won the World Cup, the women won the World Cup. Also the Under-19s won the World Cup. But that doesn’t mean to say our cricket is in good hands. It is not. We definitely need help and the board needs to answer for some of the things that have been going on.”