Sarwan confirmed as West Indies captaincy

Ramnaresh Sarwan has been set strict performance targets © Getty Images

As flagged by Cricinfo two days ago, Ramnaresh Sarwan has been named as captain of West Indies following the retirement of Brian Lara.

Sarwan was the favourite to take on the role, although he was known to have concerns about the relationship between the board and its players. He has been placed on probation with strict performance targets.

"I think the selectors felt that his knowledge of the game [went in his favour]," Bruce Aanensen, the WICB chief executive, told windiescricket.com. "They also felt that the opportunities he had to lead the team on the field, they were very impressed with that and those are two very important criteria and I think those mainly were the two things that swung things in his favour. [He also] has the respect of the players."

The selection panel which decided to the new captain was headed by Gordon Greenidge and Aanensen said the discussions had been healthy. "There was lengthy debate on the pros and cons of the recommendation that was Ramnaresh Sarwan. He [Greenidge] had indicated to us that the only other option that they felt they had was Daren Ganga and when they weighed up the pros and cons of the two persons they felt Sarwan was the better choice."

Sarwan will lead West Indies on tour to England next month, although the trip continues to be shrouded in confusion after contractual talks between the board and WIPA, the players' association, broke down. The issue is now being overseen by arbitrators.

At a meeting of the WICB, directors also discussed other management positions for the tour and it emerged that former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams' name was being considered for the role of team manager. Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain who is a non-elected WICB director and chairman of its cricket committee, performed the duties as team co-ordinator during the World Cup.

A caretaker coach was also set to be appointed following the resignation of Bennett King last week and incumbent assistant coach David Moore was tipped to land the role.