Ex-cricketer condemns Lloyd’s exclusion

Randy Glasgow, now a top promoter of cultural shows, said WICB officials are practising double standards if they indeed rule the former West Indies and Guyana captain from contesting the post.

A hard-hitting left-handed batsman in his heyday, Lloyd by being a resident of the United Kingdom for more than two decades has been ruled ineligible by the WICB rules to take up any position on the board’s executive.

But this does not cut any mustard with Glasgow, himself a hard-hitting batsman who captained Paragon cricket team and also represented Trinidad and Tobago.

"How can we say Lloyd cannot be the president of the WICB when we have an Australian who is calling the shots on the West Indies team," said an angry Glasgow yesterday.

He was referring to coach Bennett King who has been given expanded roles in the West Indies team including responsibility for picking the Test side.

Glasgow said he respected the claims of businessman Ken Gordon to be nominated for the position but felt Lloyd possessed the ideal background to take the regional game to the heights it once enjoyed during the 1970s and 1980s.

"We all know that Gordon is a successful businessman and has a tremendous reputation but I think that Lloyd with the background in the field of play and his wide experience all over the world will make the best president," said Glasgow.

"Lloyd understands the culture of cricket in the West Indies and is capable of handling the intrigue in the boardroom. He is also much younger than Gordon which offers some hope to the younger set who have much to offer and must be given the opportunity," said Glasgow.

Glasgow said that Lloyd is also best positioned to handle the challenges faced by the West Indies Players’ Association headed by Trinidadian Dinanath Ramnarine who he blamed for throwing the regional game into turmoil.

"Lloyd has been around and has been involved in one of the greatest upheavals in international cricket when Australian Kerry Packer launched his World Series Cricket circus. In the end good sense prevailed and cricket was the winner.

"We need someone with this kind of level head who can fight for the cricketers yet see the bigger picture," said Glasgow.

He urged WIPA to temper their aggressive stance and seek better opportunities for the players overseas so that they can develop their skills to become genuine Test cricketers.

He also said they have a great role in encouraging coaches to uplift their standard and contribute much more to the game than they presently do and take back control of the West Indies team.

"Imagine we are the laughing stock of the cricket world who see us fighting for money. We need to improve our image overseas by showing we can get our house in order and Lloyd can help us do that," he said.

Glasgow said that presently the Trinidad and Tobago Government is set to invest $850 million on a cricket facility in Tarouba, south Trinidad but there are no encouraging signs on the horizon to justify this massive expenditure.

He said although Gordon is a successful businessman he fears that he may be at sea among the career regional cricket officials who he said promote insularity among the Caribbean people.

"I am concerned because my heart is still in cricket. No way can we improve by spinning top in mud. We need to be decisive and pick the best man for the job. And that is Lloyd," said Glasgow.