KINGSTON–A report on the state of West Indies cricket is strongly recommending the immediate dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the five member Cricket Review Panel appointed by the Caricom Sub-committee of Cricket Governance, is recommending the appointment of an interim board to run the affairs of the sport in the region.
The report, which was made public during a live news conference in Grenada on Wednesday calls for a the creation of a new governance and management structure for cricket in the region as well as a new set of criteria for the selection of the management and board members of WICB.
Meantime, president of WICB Dave Cameron has promised a "full response" to the report.
For the new few days the Guardian will publish the full report through a series of publications.
Following yesterday's publication of Part 1, here's Part II.
Full Report of the Caricom Cricket Review Panel
There is an inherent and as yet unresolved tension between the evolution of the game of cricket into a powerful, professionally driven, entertainment and sporting industry and a system of governance predicated on an earlier, more simplified set of requirements.
In this regard, the Panel strongly recommends the immediate dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board and the appointment of an Interim Board whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven, obsolete governance framework.
The Panel states that this is a fundamental and foundational requirement. These two, key measures are absolutely necessary in order to transform and modernise the governance, management, administration and the playing of the game. All other recommendations depend on these recommendations being implemented. The transformation of the governance and administrative framework is necessary to improve conditions affecting all players. The introduction of a new governance structure is also required to build depth and continuity into women's cricket about which we make specific recommendations. Historically, and for too long, challenges with the management and governance of West Indies Cricket have been approached as an issue primarily of the quality of the leadership. Instead, it is the Panel's view that the existing governance mechanisms do not provide an appropriate environment and framework to address the changes and challenges within the game of cricket, and the business of cricket. The outmoded governance structure does not prioritize accountability and transparency.
The Panel wishes to acknowledge the considerable body of work already completed in the area of governance, first, under the chairmanship of the Most Hon PJ Patterson and then under Mr Charles Wilkin–the Patterson and Wilkin Reports–and the far-reaching recommendations these Reports offered. The Panel supports and, in some cases, builds some of its own recommendations on the sterling contributions made available to the WICB, Territorial Boards, and Caribbean public in those reports. Appendix VI contains their recommendations which we endorse as still relevant and transformative, and which offer a template for the new governance framework for West Indies Cricket.
C. State and Status of West Indies Cricket
The Panel's conclusion that the governance system of West Indian cricket has outlived its capacity to effectively deliver the game and manage the business of cricket, is borne out by the state and status of West Indies Cricket. West Indies Cricket is in a state of disarray and the men's team occupies a low ranking status. Our conclusion is informed by the following facts, garnered from extensive and in-depth consultations with a cross-section of stakeholders:
Playing status of the West Indies men's teams: The West Indies men's team is currently ranked ninth in the world and is not eligible to participate in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One Day International Champions Trophy in 2017. The qualification deadline was 30 September 2015 and the team did not qualify. Since the introduction of this tournament in 1998, this is the first time that the West Indies will not be participating in this prestigious tournament. In fact, this is the first time that the WI team will not participate in any ICC world tournament! Of twelve cricketing nations ranked by the ICC for ODIs, the West Indies men's team ranks only above Ireland, No 10, Zimbabwe No 11, and Afghanistan, No 12.
The West Indies men's team is ranked eighth among Test-playing nations and has maintained that low ranking for about ten years.
The WICB's relations with the players continue to be fractious and problematic. The long history of this state of affairs suggests that it is, in the main, a structural issue and less one of personalities. The recent abandonment of the Indian tour and the subsequent dropping of the One-Day Captain and Vice-Captain are particularly dramatic and extreme manifestations of this challenge.
The fractious and problematic relationship now extends to the coach, Phil Simmons. Coach Simmons (hired just about six months ago) has been suspended for making statements that he is unable to field the best available 50-over team to tour Sri Lanka because of "interference from outside", resulting in the exclusion of former one-day Captain, Dwayne Bravo and former Vice-Captain Kieron Pollard, which the Board deemed inimical to its interests, and to have brought it into disrepute. The residual point is that there is a breakdown in key relationships necessary for the good management and performance of the team.
WIPA no longer represents the top male players. There are also fractious relations between the players association and the top male cricketers.
There is a current, problematic "non-relationship" between the WICB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which could be potentially dangerous. This revolves around the dissolution of the West Indies tour of India, the subsequent demand by the BCCI for damages amounting to US $42 million and the impasse in negotiations between the most powerful cricketing board and country and an insolvent West Indies Cricket Board.
The quality of touring engagements offered to West Indies teams has deteriorated. It is the norm and practice now to offer two test-match tours and two to three one day internationals. The perception by the other cricketing nations is that our teams are not strong enough to offer more attractive, lucrative and longer engagements.