Left: Tony Becca. Right: Lara
Brian Lara has apologised for, in his own words, breaking the confidence placed in him as West Indies captain during and after the fourth Test against India at Sabina Park just over a month ago.
The question, however, is this: What follows the apology?
According to Lara, the pitch on which the West Indies were beaten by India was totally under-prepared, it was not deserving of such a crucial Test match, and it was probably prepared in India's favour.
On top of that, Lara criticised the selectors for not giving him the team he wanted. He lamented the fact that he was not a selector; he said that he was not told that he was a selector until during that Test match although he had been made one on May 28, and he also said that he would be revisiting his position as captain after meeting with the selectors.
Meeting held
According to the West Indies Cricket Board, a committee comprising president Ken Gordon, Sir Alister McIntyre, Clive Lloyd and Gregory Shillingford would meet with Lara, discuss the issue, and take appropriate action if necessary.
The meeting was held on July 27, and although no one knows the details of those discussions, Lara, on July 31, sent a letter to Gordon - a letter that was not only responding to what took place at the meeting but also one responding to a telephone conver-sation between Gordon and Lara on July 10, and to a letter sent to Lara by Gordon also on July 10.
In his letter to the board, Lara apologised for his behaviour as the West Indies captain by writing: "I recognise that I broke the confidence placed in me as West Indies captain by my overreaction during and after the fourth Test against India and I apologise to all concerned," and that is good.
Lara also went on to say that he hoped his "unfortunate actions will not in any way deter our march towards further success," and that is also good.
There are, however, a few questions which need to be answered.
First off, although he is the president of the board, why did Gordon, as a member of the committee, no doubt as chairman of the committee set up to investigate Lara's embarrassing outburst, not only had a telephone conversation with Lara but also wrote a letter to Lara before the meeting?
End of the matter?
Secondly, is Lara's apology the end of the matter, or as far as "appropriate action" is concerned, does the committee members, including Gordon, still have some work to do - to decide, for example, if Lara's well written apology is enough?
Gordon's letter to Lara is interesting, very interesting - not so much because of the words, but more so because of the tone. It appeared that the meeting had already been held, and that barring a tap on the wrist, all is forgiven.
The letter from Gordon, the president who, to the disgust of many of his board members, orchestrated the selection of Lara as the captain, read in part:
"Let me admit that I empathised with the rationale that you outlined during our conversation in support of additional pace against the Indians and the passion of your conviction that the series could have been won by three games to one. We need both conviction and passion to continue to build on what has been achieved. But we also need to send a signal that a new start is being made. That we will resolve our differences internally and present a unified front to the cricketing world and that West Indies cricket is on the way up again. Your statement did not contribute to sending that message and that was unfortunate.
"As mentioned to you, I feel certain that our board is fully supportive of the principle that the captain should be comfortable with the team he leads.
"This does not mean that he can have his way every time but it does mean that his views need to be carefully weighed. From your comments this morning you clearly did not think that this was done.
"Please contact me on your return for I would like to have a frank and open discussion between our chairman of the cricket committee, the convenor of selectors, and us both. We must ensure that this type of situation does not reoccur."
El Numero Uno
What next? As far as appropriate action is concerned, nothing, it seems. As far as Lara is concerned, however, it could be that he is on the verge of getting what he has always wanted, of getting whatever he wants, and to becoming El Numero Uno in West Indies cricket.
Lara was asked to apologise, he has skilfully done so without doing so, and apart from meeting with everyone to discuss what he wants, that seems to be that.
