Singh stays in the race

Chetram Singh, a shoo-in for the post of president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) this weekend has rejected claims that being debarred from the directorate of the International Cricket Council (ICC) could affect his performance.

Singh could be blacklisted because he is a bookmaker in his native Guyana. Reports yesterday suggested that Singh, who is running unopposed for the top regional cricket job may be debarred from ICC meetings in London, England as the newly elected WICB president, because of the world body’s regulations concerning ties to gambling. However, yesterday Singh maintained he has no intention of  backing down as the lone candidate as speculation was rife that he may be forced to quit. “My position remains the same, I have been nominated and I will contest the elections on the weekend,” stated a relaxed Singh from Georgetown yesterday. Singh is the only nominee for the Annual General Meeting of the WICB on the weekend, in Dominica following the withdrawal this week of his only challenger, Trinidadian Willie Rodriguez. “Firstly, we will have an executive meeting in Barbados on Thursday, where both Wes Hall and Stephen Alleyne will be present,”  the burly businessman said. “In the first place, I am a licensed bookmaker, and I am involved in a legal business so I do not perceive any problem even if I  cannot attend a meeting. They (ICC) do not meet so regularly  anyway. “Also I can easily appoint someone if it is necessary to attend any meeting on behalf of the WICB. In the region, we have a situation where Alloy Lequay is the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, and he does not attend some overseas meetings, so there is no problem,” Singh noted.

As to the upcoming elections of the West Indies Cricket Board, Singh stated: “We have not yet received any official word from Willie Rodriguez.  We have only heard a lot of talk from people at this time, but we will wait and see. I have a lot of respect for him, and the idea is to work together.” “At the moment, I can say that I am not considering stepping down from my nomination as I am looking forward to giving my best as the  next WICB President. “I believe that I can achieve much because of my experience and knowledge of cricketing affairs, and will help in the progress of WICB. If you go back in time, only Wes Hall has become president without being a board member,” the outspoken Singh said. “My role is to ensure that West Indies cricket advances in all areas,  and the fact that various boards in the region are supporting me suggest others believe I am good for cricket. Now my aim is to work  as a team with all the players in West Indies cricket. Together we must go forward,” declared Singh.