West Indies Players To Consider Action And Respond (5 November 1998)

5 November 1998

West Indies Players To Consider Action And Respond

by Gayle Alleyne and Sherrylyn Clarke

Some of the West Indies cricketers in England may be considering not going to South Africa in protest over the sacking of Brian Lara and Carl Hooper.

President of the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA), Courtney Walsh, last night did not deny the possibility of such action when he spoke to the DAILY NATION from his London hotel.

Asked if he would still go on the tour, he replied: "We have to wait and see. We have to regroup and discuss matters in the morning."

A Press release will be issued on WIPA's behalf by secretary Roland Holder and "all will be revealed" in it, said Walsh, adding that he still had to get all the facts.

The Jamaican fast bowler said the concerns which WIPA put to the board were "not just about the tour to South Africa".

Walsh, now two wickets away from becoming the highest West Indies Test wicket-taker, expressed "surprise" at the WICB's action yesterday and said WIPA would be examining this matter and its implications thoroughly, including the WICB's initial statement claiming Lara and Hooper abandoned the South Africa tour.

Asked how the other players were faring, Walsh said everybody was keyed up at the moment, but each was doing his best to comfort the other in the circumstances.

He said there were eight other players with him in London.

When contacted by The NATION, Hooper had little to say about what he termed "a very serious issue".

Reacting to the board's decision he said: "Nothing surprises me."

Asked if he would still travel to South Africa as an ordinary member of the squad if invited to do so, the Guyanese replied: "I'm ready to represent the West Indies any time."

Meanwhile, last night David Holford, chief executive officer of the Players' Association, and Holder said the WIPA would regroup, explore its options and issue a statement concerning its meeting with the WICB in Antigua yesterday.

"We had a very long and hard day in Antigua negotiating with the West Indies Cricket Board," said Holford on their arrival last night at the Grantley Adams International.

"The board was really in no mood to compromise, and we were unable to convince them of our case," he said.

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