Grenada PM expects WICB backlash from WICB

Grenada PM expects WICB backlash from WICB
Friday, March 4 2016



Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell believes his country will face victimisation from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over Caricom’s call for the dissolution of the current governing structure and a temporary Board instituted which were among a number of recommendations in a special Caricom report.

Dr Mitchell was speaking at the annual awards ceremony of the Grenada Cricket Association and also revealed plans for an independent Twenty20 competition.

Dr Mitchell, who has led the call for WICB change, has been a vocal critic of the current regime and slammed the WICB for an “amazing level of disrespect” after they delayed a meeting among the two bodies to discuss the Caricom report.

TT Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley recently revealed as well that Caricom will write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to let them know that the regional heads no longer recognise the WICB as its governing body.

“I expect because of the strong stance I’ve taken and the (Caricom) leaders have taken with West Indies cricket...Because the change will come and I could assure you that those who believe they can stand against the tide of the entire Caribbean people in a sport that defines who we are and believe that 12 men can sit in a room and decide the fate of the Caribbean region - joke they making.

“It just can’t happen. I know because of the strong stand, we may not see games in Grenada right now because they like to victimise people. If you don’t agree with them, they’re gonna deal with you. That’s how they pick teams. Someone don’t like how they operate and they speak out, they will be victimised,” the Grenadian Prime Minister lamented.

He stressed that pettiness will not result in progress and used Grenadian politics to get his point across.

“How can you build a serious institution (like that)? If I run Grenada like that all of us finished.

I telling people who on the complete opposite (side) for years and today we’re working together for our country.

Forget the past, pick the best West Indies team and forget who don’t like you and who like you. I don’t expect us to get any games right now but we gonna get soon. We’ll make the sacrifice now,” he declared.

He added: “We have the stadium and the lights and I think now we can work with the private sector and our friends regionally and internationally.

We can establish our own T20 competition here to use our stadium. I want to sit and talk to the Grenada Cricket Association about this. We won’t be able to pay the kind of money that India and hem playing but we’ll pay enough to get a serious competition so we can utilise our facility because I don’t expect to get games right now so we have to make we own,” he concl

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Why does Dr. Mitchell think there will be a backlash? Maybe it's because of his seemingly insular approach to the current situation involving the WICB, therefore, he is expecting the board to react in like manner. I am not defending the WICB because I believe they have some shortcomings too. But I have to ask why didn't Dr Micthell insist that changes were made when previous reports recommended those changes? Dr Mitchell's behaviour is suggesting that he may have some vendetta against the current Board. I don't agree with politicians being so closely involved in cricketing affairs.
I suggest that the board not be dissolved but an oversight committee be formed, without the inclusion of any politicians -there are enough credible institutions in the Caribbean which can these committee members.

The WICB, because of a structure which disenfranchises most of those who patronize West Indies cricket, has been a law unto itself and has not seen it fit to extricate itself from its egotistic cocoon to address the many voices of concern in the region and beyond.

You do not have to be close to the situation to appreciate the potential backlash would be not allocating International fixtures to Grenada but Dr. Mitchell is representing the region and the views expressed are those of a collective.

In most parts of the region, venues are either Government or Privately owned (like QPO) so the option would be for Government to withdraw the facilities but they may fear a backlash from the electorate.

My view is they should do that as fans in the region may support this action to get rid of the current WICB.