Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 10, 2010 Sports
Colin E. H. Croft
October 2010 starts a period of activity for West Indies cricket that will run deep into 2011. With numerous issues emerging, I interviewed people involved of WI cricket’s administration. Azim Bassarath, the current President of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board, completing Year 1 of his two-year term, opens the innings.
Colin Croft (CC): It’s October 2010. Where is West Indies cricket right now?
Azim Bassarath (AB): We are exactly at the same place we were a year ago. At the recent WICB meeting, in Barbados, a number of new initiatives have been undertaken. We are hoping that those bear fruits in the very near future.
There will be additional A-team tours, and more youth development and grass-roots programmes, sponsored by Digicel, and additional programs for women’s cricket, and England’s “A” team re-inclusion to our four-day tournament. There will be a widening of the Caribbean T-20 tournament, in January 2011.
We should give the WICB an opportunity to show what the future holds for us.
CC: It is 15 years that we have been sliding almost vertically downwards on that non-accomplishment pole. Do you believe that this period could be the start of that U-turn upwards for our cricket, as, that question remains; ‘where are we going with our cricket?’
AB: Whenever we win a Test match, you hear that ‘we have turned the corner.’ On several occasions, I noted that we were simply making a roundabout turn.
I like the youth development programmes, England’s “A” team’s return for the regional tournament, and retainer contracts that were extended beyond the A, B, and C classes, with the Developmental class.
I hope that this will be inspiration, motivation and indication to the younger players who were given Developmental contracts, that WICB cares about them, and wants to see much more focus on playing well and improving skills. I know that both the WICB’s CEO and President have cricket very close to their hearts. They want to see West Indies cricket move forward.
CC: Chris Gayle, Keiron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo have refused WICB’s one-year contracts; US$80,000; more than three times the total money that I made, in my entire 7-year career, playing for senior West Indies. What message does that send?
AB: Gayle and Bravo were offered US$120,000, while Pollard’s was US$80,000. Had there been no T-20 bonanza, those players will have signed the WICB retainer contracts.
These players have seen what great former West Indies cricketers have had to go through, and are going through now – Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Colin Croft, and others etc., – players who have represented us in the greatest era of West Indies cricket, rated the best team of all time. These present-day guys are ahead of themselves, and are preparing for life after cricket.
Those former players who I mentioned are nowhere near where they should have been in financial status and living comfortable lives, so that the younger players of today would have looked up to them and showed some respect.
Money is power, and power is money. The present-day players want to ensure that they have a good life after cricket.
They have indicated their commitment to West Indies cricket. The WICB has indicated that anyone who wants to represent the West Indies internationally must participate in the respective regional tournaments. I have no reason to believe that the players are not committed. Those three players are the biggest draw-cards in world cricket now.
CC: Is there a lack of respect coming from the WICB about some players?
AB: That could be, but it is also debatable. The TTCB is using Gordon Greenidge’s services, working with many of our cricketers, including Denesh Ramdin and Lendl Simmons, and Tony Gray also works with our youth programmes.
I agree that WICB should have used many of the great past cricketers for our development, as even mentors, to assist with our cricket, especially at this time.
Some of our present day cricketers do not even know most of the great, former cricketers. That is an embarrassment to West Indies cricket. At our recent TTCB national symposium, it was noted that cricket should be re-included into the secondary school’s curriculum, in T&T, and in the wider Caribbean community.
CC: Generally, the feeling is that many of the WICB newly contracted players are, frankly, quite useless. Why give contracts to these players simply because you have contracts to give? Should some standards not be adhered to?
AB: Of course, I agree with you, but the WICB Cricket Committee, headed by Joel Garner, recommended those players to the WICB’s Directors, who subsequently agreed with the Cricket Committee’s recommendations. There are also some other former West Indies cricketers on that committee too.
I understand that at the recent WICB meeting, in the CEO’s report, that he stated quite clearly that one of the Presidents of a Territorial Cricket Board have criticized the awards of retainer contracts. I know that he was referring to me.
I do not want to say more on this issue because when anyone tries to make constructive criticisms, it seems that it affects certain people. I really would not like to elaborate too much on the retainer contracts situation. But, I agree with you. Some players who were given retainer contracts did not deserve any contracts at all.
One contract that was awarded to one of the final three, when Gayle, Pollard and Bravo refused; the one awarded to Carton Baugh Jr.; well, his name was not even on the original slate for development contracts. How come he can now get a “C contract?
CC: We are still using the same people that we have used for the last five years, to try to improve themselves. Why give contracts to people who will not get better? Why not keep the money and use it elsewhere?
AB: I agree. I felt that some of the money that was awarded for the contracts for some of those players should have been used for more development work across the Caribbean, and more youth tournaments.
Under-17 is missing. Under-15 will be played over 2-days, which is extremely commendable, and Under-13 is missing. With the state of West Indies cricket, we should try to grab them at the earliest opportunity.
In T&T, we have a U-13 tournament and we are now calling for a regional U-13 tournament, along with U-15, U-17 and U-19 too.
I doubt that Caribbean cricket will ever reach the heights of the 1975 – 1995 period, but that youth development input will allow us to at least improve much. We must have more youth programmes across the Caribbean and it is the responsibility of the regional boards to bring innovations to the fore. We need regional tournaments at every age group
These days, when anyone speaks about West Indies cricket, a few illustrious names will appear, but people hardly speak about West Indies cricket.
CC: Where do you see West Indies cricket being in 5 years time?
AB: I hope that the new initiatives will bring about improvement. The WICB plan is to win ICC CWC 2015.
CC: Thank you (Azim Bassarath is quite passionate about West Indies cricket)
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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