Relief Now Cricket Crisis Is Over (10 November 1998)

10 November 1998

Relief Now Cricket Crisis Is Over

The Barbados Nation

There is relief and support among cricket experts that the West Indies tour of South Africa is going ahead.

"It is a welcome relief to have Lara and Hooper reinstated as captain and vice captain," said former West Indies batsman Seymour Nurse.

"I never thought that the tour was in doubt, the guys wanted to play and the president said that the tour was always on. There were mistakes made on both sides and I am glad that it has been resolved. As soon as they start playing the game everything should go smoothly," Nurse said.

"I hope we win, but South Africa are a strong batting team and a remarkable fielding side and they have two good fast bowlers. But if we bat well our bowlers will back us up."

Another one-time West Indies cricketer Carlisle Best said he had no doubt that the guys would be reinstated and the fines lifted.

"It was a telling blow to the president when the players all acted in solidarity," he said.

"It will work wonders for the relationship between players and the board," Best added. "What the WIPA should do now is seek the assistance of a trained trade unionist in the future."

Best said the solidarity shown by the players could result in a stronger will to win on the field down in South Africa.

Jeff Broomes, a former board member of the Barbados Cricket Association, said the agreement was one he anticipated.

He said the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) would have been dead if it had given in.

One outcome of the affair as seen by Broomes was that the captain could also effectively function as part of the WIPA.

"As an executive of the association he had a responsibility as vice-president of the WIPA and as captain of the West Indies team which to me put him in a dilemma. If it did he should just be a member of the association."

Broomes said the image of the West Indies Cricket Board had been tarnished. "It makes the board look really bad. I think Steve Camacho (CEO) should have played a more active role in the whole affair."

Former West Indies opener Conrad Hunte who is in South Africa to meet the teams said in a CANA Radio interview: "I will give them a warm welcome to South Africa. I will forget in some ways what has happened that made me very sad and very disappointed, but I understand something of the grievances of the players and the position of the board. "

He said the two teams were evenly balanced and the future of the series could be decided by who struck the first blow.

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