More Cricket Turmoil Likely, Says Official (14 November 1998)

14 November 1998

More Cricket Turmoil Likely, Says Official

by Tony Best

Look out for more trouble on the West Indies cricket tour to South Africa.

According to Julian Hunte, vice-president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), although the board and the cricketers had come to some agreement there's trouble on the horizon.

Hunte, who is posted in New York as St. Lucia's ambassador to the United Nations, told the SUN On Saturday:

"Even though there has been a 'settlement', look out for more trouble.

"And it may come during the current South Africa tour unless the West Indies Cricket Board asserts its authority over the game."

Hunte said the "settlement" reached by Pat Rousseau might not be the last word on the issue.

"What the board now needs to examine is, in the light of this 'settlement', has its authority been seriously damaged to the extent where the present regime of the board may find it difficult to govern," he said.

The ambassador, a board member for almost 30 years, raised questions about the board's ability to meet "some of the demands" which Brian Lara and Carl Hooper made.

And that, he added, was why he believed that the "settlement" reached in London and which led to both the captain and the vice-captain joining the touring party in South Africa, could lead to more trouble.

"I think this is far from over," he declared.

The ambassador, who disclosed that he had offered to resign as vice-president because of his commitments at the UN and his inability to attend board meetings, said that the board's authority was "undermined" by the action of both Lara and Hooper.

Although he wasn't told about the details of the settlement between Rousseau, Lara and Hooper, Hunte said that he was "uncomfortable" with the way the controversy was resolved.

"It is just that I have a sense of not knowing what is likely to happen tomorrow. It's a feeling that, yes, you know this thing 'has been settled', but is there likely to be something that may crop up tomorrow that might further affect the tour?

"There is a certain unease where I am concerned about the whole issue. One is just living from day to day that the tour will be completed without any further incident."

Hunte, who rejects calls for Rousseau to resign, asserting that he had been good for West Indies cricket, said that both Lara and Hooper held the game in the Caribbean up to ransom by planning their actions and springing it on the board.

But the WICB vice-president didn't concentrate all of his fire on Lara and Hooper.

He also accused the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) of acting one way with the WICB and then making an about-face afterwards.

Specifically, he was referring to a statement by the WICB that the decision to sack both Lara and Hooper was made unanimously at a meeting at which the BCA was represented.

But yet, he said, the BCA could find it possible a few days later to virtually dissociate itself from that decision.

"There is the principle that even if one is not happy with the decision, the collective responsibility of members of the board must apply in these circumstances," he said.

Hunte said it was not fair that you attended a board meeting and you said one thing, or you were part of a decision, and then went to your association and came up with something different.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)