Runako Morton dumped from Leewards squad

ST JOHN’S: Talented middle-order batsman Runako Morton failed a clinical psychologist’s evaluation and has been omitted from the Leeward Islands 22-man training squad for the 2004 Carib Beer Series four-day cricket championship starting next month.

Embattled Morton returned to competitive action in October’s Red Stripe Bowl limited overs competition after serving a suspension by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). But President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) Carlisle Powell said his fellow Nevisian was evaluated during the Zone ”A” matches in Jamaica by Anguillian clinical psychologist, Dr Oluwakemi Banks and her report “was not favourable.”

Morton, who played two One-Day Internationals for the West Indies in Sharjah in February 2002, is no longer on WICB suspension but has not met the requirements of the LICA to return to their team. “The recommendation from the doctor was not a favourable report, which was what we were anticipating to allow him to return to first class cricket and to make himself available for international cricket,” Powell said. “The suspension was not one that after it ended you go back and play cricket. There had to be a further evaluation,” Powell added. Morton was told that he would have been evaluated during the competition, Powell said.

Powell said the selectors were informed about the doctor’s report and they opted not to select Morton. The 25-year-old former West Indies youth player was suspended and fined by the WICB after appearing before the regional board’s disciplinary committee in October, 2002, to answer charges relating to his conduct on the West Indies A-Team tour to Britain and the senior West Indies team to the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy series in Sri Lanka. Morton asked to return home early from Sri Lanka to attend his grandmother’ s funeral that later turned out to be a hoax.

Frustrated at the lack of playing opportunities in Sri Lanka, he deceived the team’s management in telling them that his grandmother had died and was given permission to leave the tour. Morton had a debriefing session in Antigua Tuesday night with Dr Banks, who evaluated him, Powell, and WICB officials Roger Brathwaite (CEO) and Chief Cricket Operations Officer Zorol Barthley. “The meeting was a debriefing session to have very candid discussions with Runako Morton to analyse where he is at now, and to see what has to be done to assist him in the future,” Powell told CMC Sport.