Guyana want review of King

GEORGETOWN:  Guyanese cricket authorities have called for a review of West Indies coach Bennett King’s contract, questioning if the Australian’s salary was worth the results. Chetram Singh, president of the Guyana Cricket Board, said yesterday that King has run the team for more than a year with little progress. “The question is whether we can afford the million dollars now per annum without seeing some value for it,” Singh told NCN Channel-11 in Guyana referring to the money paid to King and his four Australian assistants; Singh said the West Indies Cricket Board could barely afford the salaries while carrying debts of US$15 million. The cricket board has written to the WICB asking for a review of the coach’s contract because of growing concern in regional cricketing circles about the state of West Indies cricket and the fortunes of the senior team.

Since King became coach, the West Indies have lost Test series to Australia, England and Sri Lanka. The West Indies was world champion for a decade and a half before losing to Australia at home in 1995. There has been a steady decline since. The cricket World Cup will be held for the first time ever in the West Indies next year. Questions have also been raised about accountablity by the West Indies coach especially in the light of the dismal performances by the regional team. Observers point to the fact that King appears to have been allowed “free sheet” as far as selecting the Test team and applying tactics and strategy. However he does not appear to bear the blame when the team loses nor does he give explanations for his decisions which impacts very significantly.