West Indies board fires Brian Lara and Carl Hooper
Brian Lara and Carl Hooper were stripped of their titles and withdrawn from the tour of South Africa
Haydn Gill in Antigua
22-Feb-2013

Now what? Brian Lara and Carl Hooper in London • PA Photos
The chaos, confusion and controversy that have plagued West
Indies' cricket in recent times, escalated to unprecedented
heights last night when Brian Lara and Carl Hooper were stripped
of their titles and withdrawn from the tour of South Africa.
In choosing to ignore firm written instructions from the team
management not to return to London, Lara, the captain, and Carl
Hooper, the vice-captain, also stand to be subjected to further
disciplinary action at an inquiry in St. John's next week
Friday.
The recent events, which were believed to have been instigated
by several grouses among the players, triggered a strong
reaction from West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Pat
Rousseau after he disclosed the board's unanimous action taken
against Lara, Hooper and seven other players who remained in
London.
"The actions of these players have done really serious harm to
West Indies cricket, the reputation of West Indies cricket, the
West Indies public, supporters and the WICB," Rousseau said at a
news conference at the Rex Halcyon Cove Hotel.
"Equally, it has created major problems for us with our
sponsors. We've had several calls on the subject already. They
have created enormous problems for the United Cricket Board of
South Africa which was very keen on having a West Indies team in
South Africa on an historic tour."
The WICB also slapped ten per cent tour fee fines on Courtney
Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and Jimmy Adams for refusing to go to
South Africa after they were sent a warning letter from the
board to proceed.
First-time selectee Darren Ganga, Junior Murray, Franklyn Rose
and Dinanath Ramnarine, who indicated their willingness to
travel, but were asked to remain in London until the issue was
settled, were fined five per cent of their tour fees.
It was reported earlier this week that tour fees were a major
cause why the players refused to head for South Africa after
completing their duties in the Wills Cup in Bangladesh on
Monday.
Rousseau, the no-nonsense Jamaican whose board has had to endure
a series of controversies since his elevation to the top post in
May 1996, said however, the West Indies Players' Association
(WIPA) could not put forward any reason why the players refused
to move on to South Africa.
"[It is hard] to believe that players, on the information we
have - on the flimsiest of reasons - had put that whole tour in
jeopardy and brought West Indies cricket into disrepute," he
said.
Correspondence from the WIPA to the WICB on October 30 requested
a meeting in England to discuss the "one-off nature of the fee
agreement recently reached".
Other issues raised included partial economy class travel to
Bangladesh, inadequate meal allowances to South Africa and the
week-long camp in Johannesburg.
"We were satisfied since the substantive issue of fees had been
settled and the others had been resolved with the team
management and the United Cricket Board of South Africa, there
was no need for an emergency meeting in London," the WICB boss
said.
It was disclosed by chief finance officer Richard Jodhan that
the WICB had agreed to accept a proposal from the WIPA to
increase the overall tour fees by US$30,000.
Jodhan also announced that the fees for the South Africa tour
were between 17 per cent and 20 per cent more than those paid on
last full tour to Australia two years ago.
The WIPA, which was represented at yesterday's emergency meeting
by chief executive officer David Holford and secretary Roland
Holder, said the players were unified in their position.
"They have expressed a position of solidarity," Holder said on
his return to Barbados last night.
"The players have the interest of West Indies cricket at heart
and have always been and will remain committed to West Indies
cricket."
The WICB has advised the players in London, other than Lara and
Hooper, that arrangements would be made for them to travel to
South Africa as early as today and that the selection panel had
been instructed to convene a meeting at the earliest possible
opportunity to choose a new captain, vice-captain and any
additional players required.
Rousseau also said arrangements were being made with a
counsellor to join the team in preparation for a series of five
Tests and seven One-Day Internationals against a side which is
seen as one of the toughest in world cricket.
The tour officially opens today with a week-long fielding
session.
Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)