Cozier fears terminal decline in West Indies

The veteran broadcaster Tony Cozier, who has witnessed the highs and lows of West Indies cricket, has said that he now fears that he is watching the terminal demise of the regional side.

Writing in his regular column which is syndicated throughout the Caribbean, Cozier warned: "The next step back is into oblivion and, if never far away, it is now as close as it has ever been."

Since the surprise success in the Champions Trophy last September, little has gone right for West Indies. Despite the appointment of Bennett King as coach, the headlines have been grabbed by contract disputes, threatened player walkouts, and last week by a leaked report which slammed players for their attitude and behaviour in Australia. The supposedly secret dossier, compiled for the side's new US$20 million sponsor, Digicel, by their liaison officer Richard Nowell, accused players of lacking commitment and of being motivated purely by money.

"He [Nowell] got no co-operation from the players and virtually advised Digicel that its sponsorship money wasn't worth anything," Cozier reflected. "Already the board is talking of a loss this year of $US5million, they just don't have any money and this was the biggest sponsorship they have ever had. Other sponsors are backing off because they don't want to get involved in controversy."

Although Cozier said that the players' activities in Australia was not anything out of the ordinary for touring sides, he warned that the ongoing row between board and players over sponsorship was potentially crippling, describing the "very militant" West Indies Players Association (WIPA) as being a major concern. The WIPA was also attacked by Nowell.

But, Cozier warned, the most serious conclusion of Nowell's was when he questioned whether Digicel's sponsorship had any value. "Those are words that should fill both the WICB and the players with dread, for the wellbeing of West Indies cricket and those who play it is heavily dependent on the sponsors' input ... and Digicel's is the by far the largest ever gained."

Cozier explained that the real issue, and one which continued to fester, was the clash between the board and players over sponsorship. That is likely to rear its ugly head very soon when the squad is asked to sign contracts for the forthcoming series against South Africa and Pakistan. The WIPA is likely to advise its members not to do so, and while the situation was papered over in time for the Australian tour, "this time," Cozier cautioned, "there is unlikely to be any compromise ... and heaven knows where that would leave West Indies cricket, except penniless and even more decrepit than it already is."