West Indies: Discarded Cricket Captain Unsure Of Future (8 Jan 1998)

January 08 1998

Discarded Cricket Captain Unsure Of Future

The Barbados Nation

ST. JOHNÕS Ð Former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh is pondering his future in the game after he was sacked, yesterday.

The West Indies Cricket Board appointed star batsman Brian Lara oyesterday to succeed him.

Walsh, who along with Lara was here for a meeting between the West Indies Players Association and the board, told reporters minutes after the announcement that he would discuss his future with his family before making a decision.

ÒThatÕs something IÕll have to decide and IÕve a few days before I do that. IÕll have to decide if it is something that I can live with. IÕm in no hurry to do that,Ó Walsh said.

ÒObviously, I still have something to offer to the game if I want to. So, thatÕs something I will have to ask myself and then decide whether I think it is best for me in the future,Ó added Walsh.

He said the outcome of the Test series against Pakistan which the West Indies lost 3-0 might have influenced the board.

ÒThatÕs a possibility but at the end of the day, decisions have been made but I think we have to go out and support our new captain,Ó Walsh said.

He is 23 wickets short of Malcolm MarshallÕs record of 376 Test wickets for a West Indian bowler and four matches short of making his 100th Test appearance.

Lara said he was keen to have Walsh in his team for the first Test against England starting on January 29 at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Both spoke after the Press conference which was held at the Club Antigua resort to announce the new captain and took photos shaking hands.

Board president Pat Rousseau said the board and Walsh had been having ongoing discussions since the team returned from Pakistan.

ÒWe have also thanked him for his contributions, not only as captain but for the role he has played in the development of West Indies cricket ... We hope that heÕs going to continue to represent the West Indies,Ó Rousseau said.

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