Tony Becca

A FEW months ago, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), in its bid to turn around the fortunes of the West Indies team, invited former Jamaica Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr. Ian McDonald to come together as a committee and examine the structure of West Indies cricket.

They were to offer recommendations as to the future of West Indies cricket and, a week or so ago, the Governance Committee, as it was called, presented, in size and in content, an impressive report to the board.

With Patterson as the chairman, the three-man committee invited comments from the public and after reading them, after listening to people from all walks of life who had been invited to make presentations, they came up with some solid recommendations in a document stretching to 126 pages.

The recommendations are many, with the problems of West Indies cricket not only limited to the field but off it as well, no stones are left unturned.

The recommended changes include the restructuring of the board, assistance for the schools and the clubs, a serious look at the players, how they are prepared, how they are selected and how they are paid, and also at the relationship between the board, the players and the sponsors.

As far as the structure of West Indies cricket is concerned, the committee, in a belief that the board has failed West Indies cricket, that times have changed, has recommended a two-tiered structure comprising a council and a board.

Recommendation

Guided by the principle that West Indies cricket belongs to the people of the West Indies, and thus seeking to provide for adequate representation and involvement, not only of shareholders, but equally of substantial stakeholders, the committee has recommended that the council, which would be the top body in West Indies cricket, comprise six territorial representatives (one from each territory), the chairman, CARICOM Bureau of the Council of Human Rights, two representatives from CARICOM, one representative from the West Indies Players Association and two former players. Also, a representative apiece from the Caribbean Private Sector, the Caribbean Labour Congress, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, the Caribbean Media Corporation, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers, a West Indies cricket journalist or commentator, a representative of West Indies women's cricket, a representative of the West Indies Umpires Association, one from the University of the West Indies, one from the Association of the Caribbean Tertiary Institutions and a CARICOM youth representative.

The recommended membership of the board, which, if accepted, will be the executive arm of West Indies cricket and as such will be responsible for the management and development of all aspects of the game in the region, is this: a president and vice-president appointed by the council, six directors from the territorial boards whose responsibility would be to promote the development of the game in their respective territories in accordance with the regional strategic plan, a cricket director, a director representing CARICOM, a director representing past players, three directors with special knowledge in major aspects of the board, for example, finance, marketing, public relations, a chief executive officer, a financial controller and a representative of West Indies women's cricket.

As far as the schools are concerned, the recommendation is that the clubs, the territories and the board pay more attention to cricket in the schools; that more competitions be arranged, that better facilities for competition and for casual cricket be provided, that the territories try to get the ministries of education to provide cricket masters at schools and that effort be made to get more funding.

Urgent priority

When it comes to the clubs, recognised as the engine of West Indies cricket, one of the recommendations is that the territories and the board "treat as an urgent priority the serious question of the inadequate funding of clubs to ensure that the clubs' ability to carry out their critical function effectively".

As far as the players are concerned, the Governance Committee has recommended that for their performance to improve there should be, for example, good discipline, there should be compulsory intensive coaching and physical fitness training and that any player, who, without a compelling reason, refuses to undergo rigorous training and orientation should be barred from selection.

In proposing that the retainer contracts be looked at again, the committee has also recommended that "in future negotiations a greater element of rewards related to performance must be featured".

The Governance Committee's recommendations did not say anything much about coaching. Based on one paragraph under 'The Next Steps', however, it seemed to be hinting that the West Indies team should be coached by a West Indian.

"A new coach and coaching team should be appointed immediately. We know of highly competent and experienced West Indians who can be available and have expressed an interest in returning home. There is a danger that further delays in exploring their interest could result in them being recruited by other major playing sides."