CARICOM leaders will meet with the International Cricket Council, ICC, next month in London to discuss their recently adopted position on the future of West Indies cricket, as they step up pressure on embattled Cricket West Indies (CWI) to restructure its governance.
Led by Ralph Gonsalves
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, chairman of CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial sub-committee on cricket, will lead a small delegation of regional leaders who will sit down with cricket’s world governing body in an attempt to convey the “desperate urgency” of the changes required.
Rowley says CWI has a case to argue
According to Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, CARICOM leaders had adopted legal advice at the two-day Intersessional in Haiti earlier this week, concerning CWI’s right to manage the “public good” of West Indies cricket.
Rowley had indicated last July that CARICOM had sought legal advice and had been assured there was a case to be argued on the basis of CWI, as a private entity, continuing to manage a public good.
According to the meeting communique, a move was agreed towards “the development of a legislative framework for the governance of cricket which was consistent with international best practices and with the International Cricket Committee principles.”
The CARICOM delegation will use the occasion of the Commonwealth Meeting in London from April 16-20 to engage the ICC.
Discussions, Rowley said, would be held against “the background of this interpretation of the protection of the public good of West Indies cricket.”
CWI and CARICOM have been at loggerheads ever since the regional grouping intervened in 2014 to help find a solution to the crisis following the Windies abandoned tour of India, which resulted in the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) slapping the regional governing body with a US$42 million claim for damages.
32-run victory for WI against UAW
A five-wicket haul from Jamaican veteran spinner Nikita Miller helped spare the blushes of a struggling West Indies batting line-up in a 32-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in a rain-hit ICC 2018 World Cup Qualifiers warm-up match, at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe.
Batting first the regional team was bundled out for just 115 in 33 overs after being badly shaken by UAE spinner Imran Haider, who claimed figures of four for 16.
At the top of the order Chris Gayle was out for 16 and his opening partner Evin Lewis for 10. Both succumbed to the bowling of pacer Mohammed Naveed.
Shimron Hetmyer made 20 before being bowled by Rohan Mustafa and Marlon Samuels hit 15, but they were the last batsmen to reach double figures.
In reply, however, the UAE fared even worse off as the team was dismissed for 83. Only four batsmen reached double figures with No.7 batsman Adnan Mufti top-scoring with 14 runs.
Miller did most of the damage with the ball by taking five for 20, but pace bowler Kemar Roach also played his part with three for 15.
For the West Indies, the victory must have lifted their morale and confidence as they try to qualify for next year’s World Cup, but a few questions remain unanswered from the batting perspective.
On Tuesday, the West Indies were bowled out by Afghanistan for 110 while chasing 140, and on Thursday they managed only 115.
The West Indies will now open their ICC World Cup qualifying schedule against the UAE on Tuesday. The UAE will in the meantime get things under way against Papua New Guinea on Sunday. The Netherlands and Ireland are also in Group A.
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