The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will not be bowing to demands from the Caricom appointed sub-committee which has called for the dissolution of the board. Photo: Internet Source

Earlier this year, Caricom appointed a sub-committee to look at the governance of West Indies cricket who reported that the regional board needs to be dissolved as a first step to a new way forward for West Indies cricket.

However, following a meeting with the board’s directors and Queen’s Counsel Anthony Astaphan, it was felt that the process used to arrive at the Caricom position was flawed.

In its response to the call from Caricom, the WICB found that the limited scope of the interviews conducted by the panel was not proper. In a report which is expected to be released to the media today, the WICB stated the presidents of the territorial boards expressed concern that neither they, nor members of their respective boards were interviewed or consulted by the panel. “Additionally, none of the independent directors were interviewed by the panel. This failure to consult with a representative of local cricket administrators and operators meant, or had the consequence of, denying the panel a full opportunity of ascertaining the key facts. This has caused or triggered findings and recommendations by the panel which are not supported by the facts.”

It noted that the panel made statements and conclusions related to the structure and governance of the WICB, while ignoring the sweeping structural and governance changes which took place at WICB since 2002.

“Great focus was placed on connecting WICB governance directly to the on-field performance of the senior team. This team is selected by a selection committee comprising cricket legends. The team consists of the best players available for selection and consists of men, not boys. The players are well supported, are comparatively well paid as professionals, and have an obligation to produce their best efforts consistently. It is therefore wrong to blame “governance” of the WICB for the team’s performances on the field. In any event, the WICB was not given the credit when the team won the ICC Champions Trophy ten years ago, or the T20 World Cup just three years ago.”

The report continued: “The panel relied on the one-year-old abandoned Indian tour matter, and the more recent disciplinary action resulting from the inappropriate public comments by the coach, as matters which can justify their wide ranging assumptions and recommendations. The board is of the view that the panel got the facts wrong in both matters and therefore arrived at unjustified conclusions.” 

The report noted that the facts surrounding the cancellation of the tour were public knowledge and it was well known that the Indian tour was not cancelled or acquiesced by the WICB. It stated that the matter of the coach concerned his own irregular conduct and his breach of provisions of his contract. “The matter was appropriately, and some believed leniently, dealt with by the management, and supported by members of the Human Resource Committee. This was not a Board decision as was assumed by some in the media and the panel. The coach admitted that he had erred and apologised to the CEO and WICB publicly.”

Acknowledging need for change

The report said that although the WICB rejected the panel’s recommendations, it does not mean that the WICB does not accept the need for further change. It called for mutual respect, the facts, and a firm understanding of the status, developments and achievements of the WICB in the ongoing discussion to move West Indies cricket forward.

The WICB reported that it would do the following:

1. Appoint a subcommittee, to include independent directors, to review the few recommendations from the Lucky, Patterson and Wilkin reports which the WICB has not already implemented.

2. Thereafter, to appoint a change management expert to review the recommendations of the subcommittee; the present structure and management system; and the Committees of the WICB and TBs. The expert will also advise on recommendations which ought to be considered by the Board to improve the governance, management and administration of cricket.

3. Take immediate steps to improve communications through various media and methods including direct communication with shareholders, Governments, stakeholders, legends and former West Indies cricketers on matters concerning governance.

4. Take steps to initiate discussions with stakeholders on and to assist with the development of cricket in the territories especially at the school level.

5. Take steps to ensure the wide public distribution of audited financial statements and other reports, once approved by the Annual General Meeting and in so far as other reports are concerned, by the Board.