No way, Hoops!

Carl Hooper is not eligible to represent the West Indies team during the tour of Australia later this year. A local radio station on Tuesday quoted a top West Indies cricket official as saying Hooper would be eligible for the One-Day Internationals.

But a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) source told NATIONSPORT yesterday that Hooper's absence from domestic tournaments would rule him out.

'The eligibility rule is quite simple. To be able to play for the West Indies you have to participate in the regional competitions which run from October to March,' the source said.

'You have to play in the Busta Cup and the Red Stripe Bowl.'

When contacted at the WICB office in Antigua yesterday, executive secretary Andrew Sealy said a statement on the matter would be issued after this weekend's board meeting.

The tour of Australia, which starts on November 7, includes five Tests and a triangular limited-overs series which also involves Zimbabwe.

The 33-year-old Hooper, who suddenly announced his retirement from international cricket in April 1999, did not play in the 1999 Red Stripe Bowl or the 2000 Busta Cup in which he was appointed to captain Guyana.

Hooper was planning to make himself available for the 2000 Busta Cup, but was unable to do so after the Carlton Club in Australia did not release him from his contract.

A few weeks ago, Hooper told CANA he wanted to return to the Caribbean to play for Guyana in the forthcoming Red Stripe Bowl.

'At the moment, I have not signed any contracts with Carlton for the new season, although they want me to sign for three more years,' Hooper said at the time.

'The new season starts in October, but matches are only on weekends, so if I sign, then coming back home to Guyana should not be a problem, as I will not miss too many matches.'