West Indies: Fresh start (6 July 1999)

6 July 1999

West Indies: Fresh start

Tony Fraser

Port-of-Spain - Seeking fresh faces to lead a team scarred by controversy, the West Indies Cricket Board says it will advertise for a coach and manager instead of choosing from a list of former stars and team employees.

"There will be no hand-picking for it this time," board president Patrick Rousseau told the Associated Press after a two-hour meeting with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Sunday.

The contracts of manager Clive Lloyd and coach Malcolm Marshall expire in October.

The West Indies have been shaken in the last year by a labour dispute and a drubbing by South Africa in December. A bottle-throwing attack by crowds in April and a storming of the field by fans that stopped a match against Australia have further embarrassed the board.

Advertising is the "only way to ensure we make the best possible selection," Rousseau said.

"England opened it up to everybody, including non-Englishmen. I don't think we need to do that, but I am just showing how important it is to widen the net."

The names of former players Sir Vivian Richards and Gordon Greenidge have surfaced since Richards stood in for an ill Marshall during the World Cup and Greenidge's departure from the Bangladesh team.

Lloyd has already endorsed Greenidge to take over Marshall's job.

The cricket team's troubles have attracted the attention of the Caribbean Community, which is being asked to guarantee as much as US$15 million in loans to prepare for the 2007 World Cup.

The region has to begin paying the International Cricket Conference in 2004 for planning of the event, Rousseau said.

On Sunday, the board also talked with Caribbean leaders about proposed legislation waiving visa, customs and immigrations for players travelling between Caribbean countries. Some games may also be played in Bermuda and Florida because the World Cup is granted to hemispheres rather than countries, Rousseau said.

"If we have to deal with the normal visa, customs and immigration systems, we'll never be able to run the World Cup."

He said the region might also need to seek funding to build new cricket grounds in preparation for the World Cup. Officials expect 12 teams to participate.

At a meeting in Antigua tomorrow, the board will look at ways to improve security after the incidents of crowd unrest.

"It is high-risk when people come rushing on to the field fighting (players) over stumps," Rousseau said.

"We understand that we have to protect the players."

Source :: The Barbados Nation