The bitter division between players of the West Indies cricket team and the West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICB) took the spotlight on Sunday when captain, Darren Sammy, launched an attack on the WICB for lack of support during the just concluded Twenty20 World Cricket tournament in Kolkata, India.
The West Indies team won the tournament against England in a nail-biting finish and immediately after an emotional Sammy blasted the WCIB and instead praise CARICOM Heads instead for support.
“I really want to thank the Heads of CARICOM, throughout this tournament they have been supporting the team, we’ve got emails, we’ve got phone calls, Prime Minister [Keith] Mitchell [from Grenada], he sent a very inspiring email for the team this morning … and I’m yet to hear from our own cricket board. That is very disappointing,” he stated.
He also made reference to an unresolved pay issue between the players and the WICB.
“People were wondering, would we play this tournament? We had issues with the board, [commentator] Mark Nicholas called us players with no brain. But all of us came together, these 15 men put adversity aside, play this type of cricket in front of such passionate fans. It was tremendous,” he stated.
Sammy was supported by his colleague Dwayne Bravo, who said the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) did more for the team than the WICB during the match.
“We have not got a telephone call from any of the WICB officials or directors. That’s not a good thing. We know that they did not want or believe that we could win this tournament. It was basically us against them. Even the BCCI does more for us,” Bravo told ‘Star Sports’ in an interview after the match.
But hours later the WICB fired back, saying Sammy’s comments were inappropriate.
“The President (Dave Cameron) would like to apologise for what could be deemed inappropriate comments made by the West Indies’ male captain, Darren Sammy in a post-match interview and would like to apologize on behalf of the WICB, to the millions of fans who witnessed (sic),” a statement from the WICB said. “The President has pledged to enquire the reason and will have the matter addressed.”
It appeared that Cameron had already taken offense by Sammy’s comment by tweeting, “When is the last time a critic paid one of your bills? Always remember that when you start to give them your energy.”
However, the WICB said it wishes to meet with the West Indies players after the IPL (Indian Premier League), to seek “common ground” and ensure the players are more regularly available for international games.
“We are fully aware of the financial rewards on offer in the lucrative international T20 leagues, but we believe deeply in the importance of cricket to the people of the region and of West Indies cricket’s place in world cricket,” the statement said. “It is, therefore, a priority to have all of our players competing and available for selection.”
Meanwhile WICB’s chief executive, Michael Muirhead, told Reuters on Sunday that the players will share the entire $1.6 million prize money for winning the tournament as well as a portion of sponsorship revenue.
However, he said the WICB should take some credit for the West Indies’ success in India, where the women’s side beat Australia in the World T20 Finals.
“All I can say is, it wasn’t by chance that this happened,” he said. “We put in a lot of preparations and spent a lot of time in getting both teams ready for this tournament. We have a lot more to do and we will just have to intensify those efforts to make sure that those plans are institutionalized and rolled out across the region, so we have the production of good players through the systems we are putting in place.”
Too much tolerance for cortuption. The very same people who are castigating WICB are the same ones who defend corruption in other places.
Ironically while the same hypocrites want the WICB gone members of the board are glorified in other corrupt operations
No specificity let the truth specify
Sammy the WICB was criticized for making you Captain. It was said at the time that you cannot made the team much more to be Captain. it appears now that you are biting the hand that is feeding you. Questions to you who selected you to go to India?who payed you passage? who paid your Hotel? who did you have the contract with during the tournament? All the competitions you played in the Caribbean to reach where you are today who organised these competitions? Did you fall from space into India and start playing cricket? Oh these questions are for Bravo also. Is it a case of their egos are now too big for their space?
Both the board and the players have their specific responsibility in this organisation of cricket
It now looks like that the board is failing at doing their jobs.
You see to be saying that the players should be greatful for boards doing their jobs? What they are paid very handsomely for, but are not doing well enough?
You see like the same kind that make politicians god, when they are suppose to be our servants and work for a salary for that job.
Sounds like you want us to be greatful when they fix roads and build schools which they are paid to do…this is exactly what is wrong with Dominica now.
I would like to hear from management,if wicb did not send a message of congratulations to the west indies cricket teams in india.any organization who sent message of congratulations directly to cricketers,by passing management to me sounds unprofessional.
Sammy’s comment was right on Q. Very appropriate, it silenced the hypocrisy of the Board. Otherwise, they would be frolicking in the glory of the victory, taking credit for the hard work of the young men.
The truth must be told and injustice and hypocrisy must be exposed at every given opportunity.
There is an autocratic group in the Caribbean that must be shamed, but alas since they get their money and power shame is nothing.
Congrats to the WINDIES Men and Women, it’s a long time that West Indies haven’t enjoyed this feeling of real pride.
Ill timed statements? When would be the right time? Since the board never listen to anyone but themselves. The board doesn’t disclose its pay structure, or at least I’ve never seen it though I’ve tried to find it. Players getting paid couple thousand dollars when the series they play in bring in more then 50-100 million. Let’s think about it. Six weeks in the ipl and get paid $500-$1m. I mean I’m a patriot but I’m not stupid. WI has the biggest cricketing brand in the world. Everyone support their team and West Indies. The board makes money off rights of the players without their consent. All sorts of nonsense. What team goes to a tournament and their board did not even supply u informs? The manager had to go through hell other then in uniforms. Not words of encouragement. Not even after winning were the best players congratulated. Not even brathwaithe was singled out by the board. All they said was well done by the men and women team. But president had time to lay into the…
This Twitter comment by President Dave Cameron is undermining to the cause of West Indies Cricket. Mr. Cameron please do you twittering, discussion and problem solving “IN HOUSE” NOT in PUBLIC!!! WHY HAVEN’T YOU COMPLEMENTED YOUR WINNING TEAM!!!
Sammy did the bidding of some his friends but it was in poor taste, it to my mind reduced the quality of our win, it was il-timed to say the least. I did not feel proud listening to him. Were you proud listening to him? I could see Gayle felt good but ?????
Well timed
I did not feel good at all. I felt very hurt to know that these are conditions that our players have to endure while representing us wholeheartedly. This seemed like the last available outlet for a long ongoing struggle. Though it may not have been the best place to air it out, I will not condemn Sammy for letting us know the truth. Dave needs to go. His insecurities, arrogance and incompetence has too long caused unnecessary stress for the players and people of the region. Dave needs to go.
the truth will only taste bad to those who enjoy sweet lies…
If not now, when? when is it ever a good time? YES I AM PROUD OF SAMMYs comment. Bravo
The entire board need to be FIRED.
The underlining statement here, is whether or not, the WICB,ever called the guys while they were doing battle in India, if that is the case, this could be considered same as a mother forgetting her breast feeding child.
I do not want to say much, but Dave Cameron seems to be sitting high on a throne of ignorance and the only way he will come down is if his critics stop paying his bills. He reminds me of a well known local pastor.
Stop all this stupidity and take responsibility .
Is that the pastor that could do no wrong for people like you Lawrence. You guys knew about the pastor long before he fell on his face but you all continued to play blind. The same behavior you Lawrence and others display for your crooks in government
Nonsense
Take them out
https://www.change.org/p/caribbean-people-dissolve-current-wicb-and-implement-recommendations-of-the-caricom-cricket-review-panel
When this ungrateful feller is throwing his disgraceful comments in this ill timed moment, at the WICB, he must remember how he because captain of the , West Indies Team. He must remember when the hierarchy of the so called big inlands was calling for his removal as captain of the team because they felt his performance as an all rounder was mediocre, it was the WCIB who stood by him for many years. It would appear he may have forgotten Mr. Julien Hunt and the pressure he had to undergo on his behalf. It is hurtful, it is alleged, the likes of Ramdim, big Bravo, Gayle never liked Sammy, today, he has forgotten who his real friends are.
Because this is not a who is my friend thing. Wrong is wrong and right is right. The board has a responsibility and it is failing.
Fire the entire West Indies Board. FIRE THEM ALL
thank you for expressing my sentiments i support you 100% in my view Sammy is ungrateful to the max
Mr. Cameron, you need to eat some humble pie and stop the hypocrisy!! Sammy is a well-spoken, disciplined gentleman and a very good leader of men. He spoke from his heart and I think that his criticism of the WICB is in order.
My own suggestion would be to disband the entire WICB and restructure a new governing board where the players and other relevant stakeholders have more say in the decision making process. Right now you and Nanthan are running the WICB like it’s an estate your parents left for you with total disregard for the welfare of the players. I mean how could the WI players, on the eve of a major tournament, not even have their uniforms ready?
I would be happy if all the politics in West Indies cricket cease with immediate effect. Cricket is too serious and precious a sport to Caribbean people to be fooled around with by an incompetent few!!
Thank you Sammy for the sparkle you and the boys of cricket have put in our eyes with winning the top prize.By doing so you have embarrassed the silent WICB made up of nincompoops. Your comment ,Sammy was well received by West Indies cricket fans the world over.Thank you for caring about the fans and winning for us.The board members are now ashamed and have been exposed for their puerile behavior. Rally around the West Indies cricket players
Well it is evident that the team can win without the board, so maybe is the board that needs replacing . Lets ask ourselves a question. cognates guys
@jr – Funny enough, while the team can win without the board, it seems that when the West Indies loses, it is solely the WICB’s fault – (based on the utterances of the fervent anti-WICB faction out there).
Hmmmm…….(interesting eh).
By the way, who is the West Indies Cricket Board? I know the WICB is not Dave Cameron as he is just the President OF the West Indies Cricket Board. So when you say replace the board, what do you mean?
I have a pertinent question. What is Dominica’s contribution to this magnificent achievement by the West Indies cricket team?
Our Govt. appears to have the sale of passports as their priority. The Vice President if the WICB is the director in charge of the Citizenship by Investment Unit, on behalf of the Govt. of Dominica, whilst the WICB’s corporate secretary is an approved Govt. agent for this programme. We may well bask in the reflected glory of our fellow Caribbean citizens but do we have our priorities in the correct order?
What is the West indies cricket team contribution to Dominica? I’ll wait
What is the Dominican passport sales contribution to Dominica?