Lequay hopes for new WICB problem solving

Regional cricket plunged into disarray when attempts to agree on the contracts of players between the WICB and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) broke down.

Tension between the parties also grew following attempts by the WICB to prevent players from signing personal contracts to enabled them to market the products of other companies.

This disagreement between the parties came to fruition when Irish telecommunication company Digicel took over from Cable & Wireless as new sponsors of West Indies cricket.

Lequay made this announcement at yesterday’s presentation of cricket gear to the five zones at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre, Balmain, Couva.

To the delight of all, the Caribbean only just witnessed a change in the board’s presidency, with Trinidadian and popular businessman Ken Gordon taking over the reigns of West Indies cricket from Teddy Griffith who had decided not to serve another term.

Lequay’s comments came only hours before Gordon was due to make his first media address at a launch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel this morning.

The long serving administrator told Newsday also that he was confident the West Indies team will emerge from their current position to be an extremely strong unit in the future. Lequay added further that with the performance of the West Indies team in Sri Lanka, the senior players may find it a bit challenging to get back in the team.

The West Indies were without a number of top players including double world record holder Brian Lara.

Others missing were hard hitting Jamaican Chris Gayle, Guyana’s Ramnaresh Sarwan, allrounder Dwayne Bravo, fast bowlers Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore and opening batsman Wavell Hinds.

Yesterday the five zones each received two bags full of cricketing equipment which is expected to enhance their development.

According to Lequay, each bag of equipment was worth in the region of approximately $3,000, and is aimed at helping those who are unable to purchase the necessary equipment to practise daily.