Sir Viv says he was left in water

ST JOHN’S: Former batting great Sir Vivian Richards has said that he resigned from his position as the West Indies’ chief cricket selector due to uncertainty about the post and a change in policy that left him out of overseas tours. West Indies Cricket Board announced on Sunday that the 52-year-old Antiguan gave up the position after signing a contract with the British Broadcasting Corporation to work as a radio commentator for this summer’s internationals.
  
Richards’ two-year stint along with those of Joey Carew and Gordon Greenidge would have expired on Friday, on the eve of the cricket board’s meeting in Guyana that would have determined his fate. But Richards said he was not willing to wait until the outcome of the meeting because the board had already decided the chairman of selectors wouldn’t join the management team on overseas tours as was the case in India, the World Cup and the tour of South Africa during his tenure. “We had a format before... but things have changed somewhat,” he told The Associated Press. “Now it would be up to management and the coaches and the captain” who will join overseas tours, Richards said. “It left me a little bit in the water.”

He said the uncertainty about his future prompted him to make the decision because as a selector he was not paid a salary. “It left you in a no-man’s situation, because West Indies selectors are only paid expenses,” he said. “All these are little complications.” Following Richards’ resignation, the cricket board have appointed an interim selection committee for two months. Carew will be chairman of the interim committee, which will also feature former Test batsman Greenidge. They will be joined by former Test off-spinner Clyde Butts. Courtney Walsh, who retired in 2001 after becoming the most successful fast bowler in world cricket, was nominated for election but did not gain a post on the committee. In another twist to the issue, West Indies Players Association president Dinanath Ramnarine told The Independent newspaper of London that players have been harshly criticised by selectors this year.

“They were verbally belittled and threatened in public by selectors. Our members spoke of outright intimidation by selectors,” Ramnarine was quoted as saying on Sunday by the newspaper. Richards denied it. “That’s so ludicrous. I can stand up for every member on my panel and say (they) have always gone and given advice,” Richards told the AP. “I believe that when you are part of a selection process ... there should be an understanding that (the selectors) could go and talk to players who are performing below par.” Richards also criticised Ramnarine, referring to him only as “the person who made that particular comment.” “He was one of the laziest individuals you could ever find — more of a taker than giving,” Richards said.
Richards’ last role in his post was the selection of the West Indies teams for the summer’s tour of England for four Tests and the triangular series of One-Day Internationals.