Hunte looks to 'rebuild credibility'

Julian Hunte: 'One of the major concerns in this regard is the credibility of the WICB' © Getty Images

Julian Hunte, who became the new West Indies Cricket Board president on Sunday, said that building confidence in the board's operations is one of his priorities as they aim to develop the game.

"One of the major concerns in this regard is the credibility of the WICB," he said following his unopposed election. "This goes beyond our public image and strikes at the heart of the character of the corporation.

"It is a matter that we must address since our ability to attract additional support, especially from the private sector, is dependent on both our reputation as an organisation and the success of our teams."

Hunte inherits a board which has been heavily criticised in the media for the way it runs and for an increasingly antagonistic relationship with the players. He said that introducing a professional league in the region and developing a more harmonious relationship with the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) were the other priorities for his administration.

"[We have to re-establish] the development committee as a number one priority of our strategic plan including the introduction of a professional league. [We must] settle all outstanding issues and define the way forward for the board and WIPA to work together in a unified, harmonious, and mutually beneficial manner."

Forging better relations was the reason that he had asked Dinanath Ramnarine, WIPA's chief executive, to join the board as one of four new non-member directors. "I believe that we cannot improve our cricket without the direct involvement and commitment of our players through their representative organisation," Hunte said. "WIPA has now been given the opportunity to be part of the solution instead of continuing to be perceived as part of the problem. It is both a challenge and an opportunity for that organisation."