Tony Becca THE WEST Indies Cricket Board is looking for a new president, and based on some of those putting themselves up for the position, based on some of those who are being put or encouraged to go for it, there are two kinds of people in the world. In fact, based on some of the names popping up, it appears there are more than two kinds of people in West Indies cricket.
One kind are those who obviously do not appreciate what the job entails, one kind are those who obviously believe that anyone can be the president of the West Indies Cricket Board, one kind are those who obviously do not look in the mirror, and regardless of what they may say, one kind must be those to whom West Indies cricket means little or nothing at all.
West Indies cricket, on and off the field, is in such a state today that it needs a president, as well as board members, with the ability to find funding, to put in place some good programmes, to get board members working together for the good of the game, to get past players involved, to instil confidence in stake-holders such as sponsors, and if some of those who are putting themselves forward, if some of those who are being encouraged to come forward believe they possess that ability, they are fooling themselves either that or they are crazy.
CAPABLE CONTRIBUTORS
Apart from Pat Rousseau, Clarvis Joseph, Deryck Murray and Tony Marshall, the only one among the names popping up who can offer West Indies cricket anything is Clive Lloyd the former West Indies captain, coach and manager.
Rated among the best captains of all time, Lloyd knows cricket, he has been to the war, he knows what it takes to succeed, on top of that, he has a reputation that can open doors probably any and every door, and although, and for whatever reason, he was not a success as a coach or
a manager, he must have something to offer.
There is one problem with Lloyd, however. The big left-hander with a passion for the game, the man rated one of the hardest hitters of the ball and one of the greatest fielders ever, does not reside in the West Indies.
Lloyd resides in England, and although there are those who have reminded that he lived in England while representing the West Indies and that he lived
in England while serving as coach and manager, there is a difference between living abroad and representing the West Indies as a player, coach or manager and living abroad and presiding over West Indies cricket.
Like a selector, the president, for obvious reasons, needs to reside in the West Indies, and if Lloyd wants to be the next president of the West Indies Board, he should come home. If not, he should forget it.
West Indies cricket needs a good, strong leader. At the same time, however, it does not want an absent president. That would be just as crazy as putting in a president who cannot manage the job.
