WICBC_SLAMMED_ROBERTS_08MAR1996

West Indies Board Slammed By Sacked Roberts

NEW DELHI - Former West Indian paceman turned Andy Roberts slammed the West Indies Cricket Board of Control on Wednesday. He claimed the decision to replace the team`s senior management had been made by people who did not understand cricket.

Captain Richie Richardson informed the WICBC of his intention to retire from international cricket before the board met on Tuesday and decided to dismiss both Roberts and team manager Wes Hall at the end of the World Cup, as well as naming a new skipper.

The WICBC said fast bowler Courtney Walsh would take over as captain for the test and one-day series against New Zealand in the Caribbean starting later this month.

Former captain Clive Lloyd would be coach during the series, with the Barbadian representative on the WICBC, Tony Marshall, as manager.

Although Richardson had made clear in his statement he was leaving the international stage completely, WICBC chief executive officer Steve Comacho suggested otherwise.

Comacho told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) in Bridgetown he had spoken to Richardson, who said he was willing to continue solely as a player.

Roberts, like Hall a highly respected former West Indies fast bowler, was deeply disappointed he had not been given more time to make a success of a job he took over just 11 months ago.

"A lot of these decisions are taken by people who really do not understand cricket,`` he said.

"It`s one thing to read about cricket, it`s another thing to understand it. Most of the time, they`re far away in the Caribbean. It`s difficult for them to understand what`s going on.``

The timing of the announcement has rocked the team`s World Cup campaign, coming just a day after they had beaten Australia and less than a week before they are due to play South Africa in the quarter-finals in Karachi.

New captain

Roberts and other team members had been aware of Richardson`s intentions for some time, and he confirmed the news to the board even before his match-winning 93 not out against Australia in Jaipur on Monday.

"It`s not a sad day,`` said Richardson, looking almost the most relaxed member of the West Indian side as they flew into New Delhi.

"I have been looking forward to retiring from international cricket for a long time,`` he added.

Roberts confirmed that Walsh had been nominated as the new captain after the World Cup, but Walsh himself was saying little on Wednesday.

"All I`m thinking about is the World Cup,`` he said. "That`s what I want to concentrate on.``

Hall was reluctant to discuss his thoughts, but Roberts was convinced the board had over-reacted to the 73-run defeat by Kenya in Pune last week, which caused huge embarrassment in the Caribbean.

"We do things on impulse because we were beaten by Kenya. I find it difficult to believe they had the meeting scheduled for the middle of the World Cup,`` said Roberts.

He said he would remain in his job for the remainder of the tournament.

"I still have a job to do and I`m still going to do it to the best of my ability. I still feel I have a lot to offer West Indian cricket if I`m called upon in any capacity.``

Australian coach Bobby SImpson said he was disappointed to hear the news that Richardson would be standing aside.

"It didn`t come as a complete shock, but I`m very disappointed,`` said Simpson. "I think he`ll be sorely missed. He`s a strong man and West Indies need a strong man at the moment.``

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