Boards get more time to pick

An announcement to this effect is expected from the WI Board as early as today, the date for the closing of nominations.

The not unprecedented move to extend the deadline for nominations to the job was reached during discussions between the heads of the six main regional cricket bodies .

This development came after concerns were raised from the top cricket officials that they were not afforded enough time to properly select a candidate and garner support from at least one other territory to make the challenge valid.

Speaking on condition of strict anonymity yesterday, a Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board official said that the regional bodies were sent scrambling last week when the incumbent Teddy Griffith suddenly announced that he will not be seeking re-election.

"You must remember that Griffith’s announcement came after the date was set for the board’s annual general meeting in St Martin, British Virgin Islands on July 16," the official explained.

"We were all caught by surprise because everyone concerned was of the view that Griffith was going up again. So we were caught out of our crease," he said.

And he indicated that following the shock announcement by the Barbadian, the respective regional bodies have been feverishly trying to contact several persons who they believe will take up the challenge of heading the administration of the regional game.

Among the front-runners are former Trinidad and Tobago Government Minister and successful businessman Ken Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago; former West Indies and Guyana captain Clive Lloyd and Barbadian Tony Marshall.

It is reported that the Jamaica Cricket Board, headed by former Test player Jackie Hendricks are also searching for a candidate and among those being considered is Pat Rousseau, a former WI Cricket Board president.

Yesterday the Board official confirmed that Gordon was the choice of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and efforts were being made to establish some consensus among the other regional representatives.

"We do not want to have a divisive and acrimonious fight for the WICB presidency. We recognise that Gordon is interested in taking up the challenge but he may not want to get involved in any prolonged battle," said the source.

He said that ideally, the former chairman of Caribbean Communications Network (CCN), which owns TV6 and the Express Newspaper would accept the post unchallenged hence the furious round of discussions taking place between the regional officials.

"Talks have been ongoing since last week. And we wish that all parties involved in the process could rally behind one candidate. This will ensure the full support of all the members of the executive when the business of the board resumes in earnest on July 17," the Board official said.

"We believe that Ken Gordon is the kind of individual that can make a difference in West Indies cricket bringing together his media savvy and business acumen.

He has a proven track record of success in all that he has undertaken and will be an asset to the regional sport which is currently going through some hard times," said the TTCB official.

"It is unfortunate that the present WICB officials do not understand the workings of the organisation and the issues to be effectively dealth within the current structure. Gordon is the person who we think can step in and make the improvements necessary to lift the game," the Board official said.