Rodriguez out, Banks safe bet

Amidst all of the uncertainty surrounding the nominations for the election of a new president of the West Indies Cricket Board, there is widespread speculation that the incumbent Val Banks of the Leeward Islands may very well get the top job. Sources in the WICB indicate the voices clamouring for transparency in the WICB’s affairs have suggested names such as Derek Murray (Trinidad and Tobago), Sir Gary Sobers (Barbados), Clive Lloyd (Guyana) and even Barbadian Tony Marshall. However there seems to be no room for former candidate Willie Rodriguez, the former Trinidadian Test all-rounder who is head of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club. President of the Jamaican Cricket Association, Jackie Hendricks, admits that at this moment, there has been no decision on the nominations for the post by his organisation based at Sabina Park in Kingston. “We have not really had an opportunity to meet and discuss anything as yet, we are still waiting on a date to be given for the next meeting and we will see what happens after that,” Hendricks told Newsday yesterday.

Speaking about possible nominees, Hendricks stated: “There are a some names that we will probably consider when we meet, but at this time Willie Rodriguez as far as I understand withdrew himself from the last election, so that would tend to mean that he is not interested in the position.” Hendricks expressed concern about the delay in naming a date for the special meeting. “We know that there will have to be a 30-day notice period according to the rules, but yes, it is surprising that we have not yet heard anything from the West Indies Cricket Board on the matter,”the former West Indies wicketkeeper said. “At this time also, a lot of our members in Jamaica are on leave with their families and so that is delaying us in Jamaica as well, but we will be ready when the time is named,” he added. Hendricks also spoke about the absence of a Jamaican on the current WICB executive. “This team has been there before, maybe I believe when Pat Rousseau was the president, so their term will come to an end next year,” he said. The current executive is Val Banks (acting President), Chetram Singh (Guyana), Richard De Souza (Trinidad and Tobago) and Stephen Alleyne (Barbados).