SHORT_NO_LONG_STAY_23MAR1996

Short Does Not Want A Long Stay

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

West Indies cricket which has run into turbulence in recent times, will have a new president, when the West Indies Cricket Baord of Control holds its annual general meeting in Kingston in May.

Captain Peter Short, the incumbent president, during whose tenure West Indies cricket went on the skids, it is said is relinquishing office after two years in office.

According to the `GLEANER` newspaper in Jamaica, Short has informed the members of the WICB that he will not be seeking reelection. In a fax to every member in the board Short has said: `I consider that it is in the best interest of the future of West Indies cricket that a new president should take over.`

Incidently according to the `GLEANER` the majority of members in the baord were not in agreement with the decision not to go to Colombo to honour their World Cup fixture against Sri Lanka.

According to the `GLEANER`, a member of the board had said that repercussions on this can be far reaching. The president was told not to follow the Australians, and yet he did just that.

Pat Rousseau, a Jamaican and Chairman of the WICB`s Marketing Committee is tipped to replace Short. Rousseau made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 1994 when Sir Clyde Walcott resigned. But this time appears to have the majority of members supporting him.

The `GLEANER` further states: `Short`s two years in office was marked by controversy, and his role in the Brian Lara affair _ from the meeting in England when he is reported to have pardoned the star batsman for leaving the team, through to the pardon following Lara`s withdrawal from the West Indies team to Australia _ angered many board members.

`According to news coming out of the eastern caribbean at the time, there was a move to replace at the emergency meeting called in December to discuss the Lara issue.

Source:: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)