We must treat our heroes better

The quality of  honour, seems rare and out of place in a cricketing environment. And while most times  this may be correct, when it comes to respect  for players (both current and former) , the great divide that is the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) comes into focus again. Recently, former West Indies batsman, Larry “Mr Dependable” Gomes revealed that when he visited the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain to obtain his customary cricket ticket (or pass) for attendance to the recent sceduled one-dayers, he was told this practice had been stopped. Upon further enquiries, Gomes was told that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board could not issue a pass to him, but instead he had to contact the West Indies Cricket Board.

As if this alone is not bad enough, we have a situation whereby the captain of the West Indies women’s cricket team, has not been issued with a ticket or pass to attend the international matches. All of the above may not mean anything to many of you, but that is not the point. Ignorance is not bliss and it is not a sign of anything other than a lack of appreciation for those that have done so much for the region. Why is it that, our former players who have contributed to the game, must be forced to suffer this indignity? This can only happen in the West Indies and some will add only in Trinidad and Tobago. Perhaps clarity is needed on who is to blame for this. Is it the fault of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control or the West Indies Cricket Board?

Both parties have a tendency from previous experience of ducking the issues. The whole concept of every year, former West Indies players having to send their photographs to the West Indies Cricket Board is ridiculous. The WICB must issue a standard entrance document to all former West Indies players, with their pictures, which can last them for the rest of their lives. How hard is this? Or are the media consultants employed by the WICB in their infinite wisdom, decided that this would be too hard. We need to have the WICB respond to this as soon as possible. And concerning the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, the executives on that committee, none of who have played Test cricket, need to get off their behinds and investigate this and find a solution.

All of these men, like Larry Gomes and Richard Gabriel, do not need to be embarrassed by inadequate planning and disorder. As for the women who represent the West Indies, we are in a modern era and if the WICB are as serious as they profess to be through their changing leaders, then recognising our women cricketers is a certainty. This must have been an oversight, surely it could not have been intentional, and certainly the West Indies Cricket Board, do indeed care about the women who play cricket at the highest level. In all of this, some have asked, what role does the West Indies Players Association play? Gomes admitted he has spoken with them on this matter. Given the fact that WIPA drag their  feet, more often than not, because of their trade union posture of late and their confrontational nature, hope is the best that can be expected.

The reality though is organisations like the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association have over time, hurt those who have made a contribution to the game nationally and regionally. These are the men and women who have given their heart and soul to the sport. Would this ever happen to Sunil Gavaskar in India, Ian Botham in England , Imran Khan in Pakistan, Allan Border in Australia, Martin Crowe in New Zealand and Barry Richards in South Africa? For certain, Antigua would never treat Vivian Richards like that; neither would Jamaica treat Courtney Walsh like that. Why only here? Why in Trinidad and Tobago, are we so laidback, that we are all bent? This action meted out to the sports heroes is a shame and a travesty. Caring, courteous, appreciative, understanding and common sense have been thrown through the window once again in West Indies cricket.