Walsh should call it a day - Prescod (8 Jan 1998)

January 8, 1998

Walsh should call it a day - Prescod

The Gleaner

CRICKET: George Prescod, the chief executive officer of the Jamaica Cricket Association, and George Sterling, second vice president of the Jamaica Cricket Board of Control, yesterday cautiously greeted Brian Lara's selection as the new captain of the West Indies team.

Prescod, however, disliked the manner in which the selectors discarded former captain Courtney Walsh and suggested the Jamaica paceman call it a day.

"I don't think an old captain should play under a new one, especially when he should have been given the honour of declining the captaincy," Prescod said.

"Things did not go his way recently as the team went down in a 3-0 whitewash to Pakistan. I would prefer to see Walsh leave on a high note instead of being dropped as the captain after he had done a good job with the team," he said.

"Walsh is of the age when he should bow out in style, but it appears as if the selectors succumbed to much pressure. However, I welcome the appointment of (Brian) Lara as the new captain and my only hope is that he can wear the cap of captain with dignity and with distinction," Prescod said.

Sterling said the region should give full support to Lara and put an end to the things which have been clouding West Indies cricket in recent months.

"As a member of the local cricket board and an hardened fan of West Indies cricket, I believe all that is left of us to do is to give him (Lara) our full support," Sterling said.

"I have no doubt he will do well on the field being the best tactician in the game here at the moment and my hope is that he matches his exploits on the field with what he does off the field," he said.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)