Murray bids for Lequay’s job

Former West Indies vice-captain Deryck Murray will formally announce his candidacy for the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) today at Guardian Life’s Head Office in Westmoorings. By throwing his hat into the ring, Murray will put himself at odds with the succession process already in place at the TTCB.

The TTCB will host their annual general meeting on October 25 at which a new president will be elected. Current president Alloy Lequay will step down on October 14 but will retain the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He has reportedly hand-picked first vice-president Ellis Lewis to replace him and the executive is widely expected to support this move.  With the latest development cricket officials were yesterday reaching for their calculators in an attempt to line up the votes in anticipation of a close battle for the top job in local cricket. Murray, a manager at Guardian Life, was unavailable for comment yesterday. Lequay, just back from St Lucia where he attended the Venue Summit for the 2007 World Cup to the staged in the West Indies said he would rather not comment.

Murray after his retirement from international cricket joined the TT Diplomatic Corps and was posted in New York, USA before returning home two years ago. He was asked by Lequay to head the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Academy at Balmain, Couva and held the position of director. But earlier this year he asked Lequay and the TTCB executive to void his three-year contract on the grounds that his appointment as a Guardian Life vice-president, Group and Affinity Marketing, will engage most his time. As a result he said, he would not be able to concentrate on his job with the NCC. Murray was granted his wish and his contract was made void in March.  He was then made a consultant until June when the second class at the centre was about to graduate. After that Murray wanted to continue as the director without pay but Lequay and the executive thought that it would be better to have others take charge. Since then Lequay, national coaching director Baldath Mahabir and West Indies Cricket Board Territorial coaching administrator Kumar Rampath have been taking care of affairs at the Centre.

Murray’s bid is the second consecutive bid made to wrest power away from the Lequay-dominated organisation. In 2001, sports administrator Anthony Harford made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Lequay who has been at the helm since 1981. Harford, a former airline pilot who is also a radio personality  withdrew at the last hour and Lequay retained his position. On October 24 the candidates will be vying to capture the better of 43 votes to claim the presidency. The votes will come from the Executive - 11; National League Committee - 6; Nominated Members - 3; Women’s Cricket Board -2; Umpires Council-2; Secondary Schools - 2; Primary Schools-2; Five Zones - 15. The 60-year-old Murray made his Test debut for the West Indies in 1963  against England. He played 62 Tests scoring 1,993 runs at an average of 22.90. He also held 181catches. In limited overs cricket he played 26 matches scoring 294 runs at 24.50. He has also served as president of the West Indies Players Association and also as an International Cricket Council Match Referee for three One-Day Internationals.