Ramnarine

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine is one of four new non-member directors approved by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

At its first meeting following the election of its new president, Julian Hunte yesterday, Ramnarine was named to the board's directorship along with former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, Professor Hillary Beckles, principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, and Ken Hewitt, accountant and head of the Finance Committee of Cricket World Cup. A WICB press release Sunday evening said the inclusion of the four new directors now "widens the participation" of its key stakeholders in the governance process so as to support the achievement of the organisation's strategic objectives. Commenting on the selection of the WIPA president, the new president Hunte said the move is expected to assist in building a better relationship between the players and the board.

"I believe that we cannot improve our cricket without the direct involvement and commitment of our players through their representative organisation," Hunte said.

"WIPA has now been given the opportunity to be part of the solution instead of continuing to be perceived as part of the problem. It is both a challenge and an opportunity for that organisation," Hunte added.

The board's weekend annual general meeting ended yesterday with Hunte formally taking over as WICB president from Ken Gordon.