Lockhart Sebastien lands in hot water for criticism

KINGSTOWN: Lockhart Sebastien, manager-elect of the senior Windward Islands cricket team for next year’s Carib Beer Series, seems to have landed himself in hot water with officials of the Windward Islands board. The board has written to Sebastien for him to explain reports of him allegedly criticising the selection of the senior Windwards team and his failure to attend the closing ceremony of the senior Windwards championship that was contested in his native Dominica from December 9 to 19. “The matter has been brought to our attention and we have written Lockhart to ask him to explain what happened,” Windwards president Lennox John told CMC Sports on Saturday. John added that that while the Association is unable to substantiate the reports on Sebastien’s alleged comments, they were disappointed with his failure to attend the closing ceremony in his capacity as Windwards team manager and a member of the board.

“We cannot take action against him for his failure to attend the closing ceremony because he has indicated that he was not feeling well on that particular day,” said John, also a director of the West Indies Cricket Board Players and officials of the Windwards team are generally issued with letters following appointments, underscoring their responsibility to avoid bringing the game into disrepute. Sebastien, a former Windward Islands opening batsman, scored 4,934 runs at an average of 32.89 in 92 First-Class matches. Windwards face Jamaica in their opening match of the Carib Beer 2004 Series, starting at St  Lucia’s Beausejour Stadium on January 9.