Irving Ward: Walsh is skipper and that's that (29 July 1997)

29 July 1997

Walsh is skipper and that's that

Irving Ward

WEST INDIES cricket Board of Control secretary Andrew Sealy yesterday put to rest the controversy now surrounding their decision to re-appoint Courtney Walsh ahead of Trinidadian Brian Lara to the position of skipper of the regional team.

As a matter of fact, it would appear that Lara can consider the issue of his taking over the captaincy of the West Indies team on permanent hold until such time as it comes up for redress again.

The issue of the WICB's decision to appoint the ageing Walsh ahead of the heir apparent Lara spawned into heated debates on the streets yesterday as the supporters of either man delivered their side of the tale. Many though were angry at the WICB's decision to bypass Lara while it has been clear that he is the obvious man to replace Walsh immediately rather than later on in his young career.

Contacted by the Express for a response on the issue, Sealy made it clear what the WICB's mode of thought on the matter was.

"I say to you, as I've said to all journalists from Trinidad ... who are the only ones interested in this matter, of course, that the Board have appointed Walsh as captain of the West Indies team and we have no further comment on the matter."

Sealy's voice was brash and unemotional and, while he ventured no further words on the matter, there could be no doubt about in whose hands the WICB entrusted the team for the forthcoming series in Pakistan.

He was at the time though responding to questions as to whether the WICB had spurned a recommendation from the selection panel, headed by Barbadian Wes Hall and including Joey Carew (T&T) and Michael Findlay (St Vincent), which indicated that Lara should be appointed new captain of the team.

The Express learnt yesterday from a reliable source close to the WICB that the selection panel did in fact make the recommendation but it was obviously overruled by the Board.

"What the rational is for keeping him (Walsh) as captain nobody knows but the panel recommended Lara because the team is going through a transition and changes need to be made now," the source explained.

There were reports yesterday that members of the panel were angry with the WICB's decision and were seeking a meeting with them later this week.

But Carew told the Express yesterday that this, as far as he knew, was not true as the panel had done their job and the Board did theirs.

"Our job is simply to make a recommendation but the Board has always had the last say in the process. They are our bosses so our being angry with them would not make a difference," Carew explained.

Carew however could not comment on any of the decisions forwarded to the Board by the selection panel as the policy is that only chairman Wes Hall can speak on the committee's behalf. Hall, however, speaking from Barbados yesterday, also side-stepped questions on the issue indicating only that the selection panel had done its job.

There is precedent for such a decision though as in the 1970s, the then Board also chose Clive Lloyd over Rohan Kanhai despite a recommendation in favour of the latter.

Alloy Lequay, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control, was also diplomatic when quizzed on the issue to select Walsh ahead of Lara.

"As a member of the WICB accepting the collective responsibility for the decision is something I have to do," Lequay explained.

"But the members of the selection panel are entitled to resign if they are unhappy with the Board's decision."

Lequay added that while the decision may have adverse effects of Lara, he should try to soldier on for the cause.