By Phillip Hackett

Whatever we believe about the WICB and the quality of administration, they played a masterstroke in sticking with the players who made themselves available for the series against Bangladesh.

The WICB and its selectors have been widely criticized for overlooking the disgruntled players after they made themselves available prior to the mediation process led by Sir Sridath Ramphal.  Had they picked the so-called first choice players, including Chris Gayle, Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan West Indies cricket could have been exposed to even greater embarrassment than what is anticipated in some circles given the perceived limitations of the team now in South Africa.

A repeat of the standoff in London that preceded our first ever tour to South Africa would have been quite likely given the break down in the mediation process over the past week. That would have most likely sparked a series of events even more intense than the current crisis.

As the various stories have unfolded, most of them following the resignation of WICB Director Conde Riley, it has become increasingly clear the problems surrounding West Indies cricket run deeper than simply poor administration or ill-disciplined players.

One wonders if there is any hope of a turnaround in the attitudes of the first choice players or if the financial issues are bigger than the survival of West Indies cricket.  I find it hard to imagine a speedy and permanent solution to the current impasse under the current leadership of WIPA Bitterness and greed are not the best motivators for player representation. The volatile relationship between WIPA and the WICB has now escalated into a full blown power play, one in which West Indies cricket could be the biggest loser.

If the team being led by Floyd Reifer has any measure of success it could spell disaster for the established players. Many of them will be hard pressed to regain their Test places even in the unlikely event of a settlement.

On the other hand if Reifer and his players prove to be as embarrassingly weak as many people seem to expect we could be on course for a situation similar to that experienced by Zimbabwe.  While I understand why Australia and others would be keen to face a ‘full strength’ West Indies team it is hardly practical to expect our selectors to choose players who are not committed to the job at hand.  The only other reasonable alternative is non-participation but that decision will be influenced by the ICC.

The involvement of the UWI has given the WICB the option of forming a new nucleus around which to rebuild. It is unlikely that there will be any long term support for WIPA by players throughout the region who have benefitted very little from WIPA representation. To the contrary they have on occasions been ‘used’ in the narrow interest of the handful that play for the West Indies.

I believe the regional limited overs tournament will be one of the most important in the history of West Indies cricket. I am confident some of the players initially selected for the first Test against Bangladesh will be picked for the tour of Australia. Thirteen players cannot permanently hold West Indies cricket up to ransom especially when more than half of them are fortunate to be even playing international cricket.

The WICB’s hard-line position, one which I fully support, will hopefully send a message to the new era of players that if one opts to give up an international place in the West Indies team there is no guarantee of further involvement.