Just two weeks ago (in September) I was on assignment in Grenada and in-between meetings one of our casual discussions drifted to West Indies Cricket. Since I was in the same building housing the offices of the Prime Minister of Grenada, I intimated to my colleagues that if I was afforded the opportunity I would discuss just this very issue of West Indies Cricket with Hon. Keith Mitchel since he is CARICOM’s Focal Point Head of State on Cricket.
Therefore, I am encouraged by his perspective which seem quite in line with my thinking on West Indies Cricket and in particular the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), though my views may be more radical than his and I would want to persuade him to accept my “non-status quo views” in these radical times. In fact as I am writing I almost felt that by uttering the word WICB I had to seek repentance for speaking what is now a highly offensive word (or acronym if you like) for indeed WICB is now a bad, bad word that leads to vexation of spirit.
I further intimated that if I was afforded an audience with Hon. Keith Mitchel, the essence of my submission, or rather earnest petition to him would be characterized in the way Mighty Chalk Dust characterized in song the Problems with Calypso – “Kaiso sick in de hospital” (1993). It is the same with West Indies Cricket.
My petition would read as follows:
Sir, West Indies cricket is on the verge of death and requires a Tectonic paradigm shift to get it resuscitated realigned. WICB needs a shake-up of epic proportions.
WICB & West Indies Cricket seem to be, especially in recent times, a microcosm of governance in West Indian social structure, West Indian politics and the construct of West Indian effort to building what we hope to be a dizzying pinnacle of Sapiens. A-LAS ! Papa Bon Dieu!! It seems any one partaking of such fruits or drinking from these cups, immediately get contaminated – a venomously poisonous chalice.
I would be the first to submit that in the ordinary milieu of governance and textbook managerial approaches, the West Indies Coach, Phil Simons was out of order to go public at this stage but – poor guy could not hold back in the face of what I consider the stupidity that is the WICB. What Phil Simmons saw in there was probably so revolting that in his words it caused a “bout of madness”, depression and an urge to gasp for fresh air and cry out loud in agony – in short Phil Simmons and his proper and upright conscience was forced under duress of stupidity that is WICB to whistle blow. Usually it is hard for whistleblowers because they tend to stand alone – for the most part. You want to support him for whistleblowing yet you are concerned about the administrative and confidentiality protocols that pertain under normal circumstances which seemingly and for all strict legal intents and purposes were broken: remember Edward Snowdon? – But these are not normal times for West Indies Cricket so I support Phil Simmons wholeheartedly as a Caribbean Hero.
Even the Greats that drink from this chalice get wholly and totally contaminated. West Indian politics on any, and whatever which side of the political divide, epitomizes the same destructive characteristics of social discord, division, polarization and plain downright stupidity. This creature that is the WICB must be destroyed and a new order for West Indies Cricket must be created.
What I see reminds me of the Jamaican epic writer, Orlando Patterson’s book “Children of Sisyphus”. The Greek mythic figure of Sisyphus was cursed by the gods to roll a stone up a hill and to every time he reaches close to the summit the stone rolls back down, only for him to start all over again – a life of worthless, meaningless toil. At least he finds consolation in that he is doing something but sadly, never getting to the summit. Remember the French Philosopher Jean-Paul Satre’s essay on “Being and Nothingness”? This is the WICB – plagued by a Sisyphean dilemma. I find the same is true of Dominica’s 20 year economic cycle from 1900 to present. Check out the history.
What we need in the Caribbean is a transformation of the mind, and working together, agreeing to disagreeing – and especially, knowing when to speak our mind and when to hold our peace, when to Jaw-Jaw and when to war-war.
We must learn dialogue, negotiation, détente, rapprochement, and collaboration. The Caribbean has most of what it needs to develop – we just seem not able to harness it properly. By God let’s change that !
I tend not to comment a lot publicly but I was pondering a little deeper on the WICB saga and I came to the conclusion that name and reputation of West Indians as a people and our reputation as people of resilience who strive for excellence must be protected from the ignominy and caricature that is WICB. The culture of decrying, suppressing and depriving our professionals and those who have achieved must stop.
The disease of “DISHONOURITIS” must be eradicated.
It appears that we delight in destroying anyone who has a semblance of achieving something before they achieve it – and if by any chance they had succeeded in achieving then the Plan B seem to be to embark on dishonoring them. Most, if not all of the West Indian Cricketing Greats, at some point or the other would testify to somehow having tasted of WICB’s dishonoring tendencies.
As much as I do not think politics and sport should mix, at this juncture though, I think that CARICOM Leaders no less, MUST HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ITS PEOPLE to save us from this creature that is WICB- and they should DO IT NOW or appear as timid as meerkats (and all the other stronger synonyms you may encounter in the dictionary) or playing possum. The cricketing public has suffered for too long.
Cricket is not just a sport to us – it speaks to the soul of West Indian Consciousness. Now since CARICOM may not be able to or have the legal wherewithal to disband WICB then they must collectively decree that they no longer have confidence and have no further interest in WICB or its representation and proceed to form a new body. Vest all powers in the new body to act on behalf of the Caribbean Member States and petition the ICC to recognize this new body. In any event, if all the Heads in CARICOM take that position the WICB would cease to be legitimate since they would not be representing any country and therefore would ultimately be void within the context of ICC. West Indies cricket would also be saved from all debt, including that owed to BCCI since WICB would inevitably have to declare bankruptcy. CARICOM should then then ask for a new framework with BCCI.
Ensure that the new Board, Selection Panel and Management and the Players must operate on a new platform of performance and reward – A MERITOCRACY.
West Indies players must then be given a new common “CAUSE” reflecting the new dispensation around which to rally. We started declining when we stopped seeing the “common cause” against marginalization and neocolonialism once we were accepted by virtue of our Team’s phenomenal feats from the late 70’s to the early 90’s. That “new cause” must be nurtured in the new teams but especially at the grass roots up and crystalized at The Sagicor West Indies Cricket High Performance Centre.
WE NEED A NEW ENTITY based on Meritocracy.
CARICOM please try this and almost the whole Caribbean (98%) would accept that approach. Of course you would necessarily have to create the important legal framework but this may be the only way to preserve our cricketing dignity and reputation, yea – our very image as West Indians whom the world must take seriously!!
Now can we succeed in ushering a new era of stability, tranquility, respect and excellence in West Indies cricket? I was taught the Success is as simple as ABC
A – Ability;
B – Break (or opportunity)
C – Courage
Now CARICOM, you have the ability, you have the break (opportunity) but do you have the courage to effect such bold changes. CARICOM prove to me you have what it takes to save West Indies from further embarrassment globally. I beseech you, I implore you, I DARE YOU!
This is a tough challenge, requiring a large amount of fearlessness, and as such it reminded me of William Fulbright’s U.S. Senate Speech: “We must dare to think about ‘unthinkable things’ because when things have become unthinkable, thinking stops and action becomes mindless.”
Now don’t tell me I’m wrong because “I in town too long”– Mighty Chalkdust (2005).
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Dream on.The politicians are no better but like the cricket fraternity reflect the consciousness of so called Caribbean civilisation. Dr Mitchell was sitting right next to Skerrit when he was rambling on about his non-involvement with Ng Lapseng. I would bet that he knows more than we do about those two but he spinelessly attacks West Indian cricketers when he knows that what happens in cricket is an expression of the nature of Caribbean society.
Aye DNO, the West Indies cricket team has just started an international tour of Sri Lanka – today is the second day of the 1st test – and you all ain’t even giving an update on the cricket proceedings.
But what kind of ting is dis nuh DNO.
DNO, y’all have to do much better than this when it comes to the Caribbean’s premier sport.
CARICOM do not have the power to make the West Indies Cricket Board do anything. The WICB is a private body, the real power in West Indies’ cricket lie within the Territoral Boards who seem to be contented to let this big mess remain in our cricket.
You Said it and I agree with you. Here’s what I said:
“…Now since CARICOM may not be able to or have the legal wherewithal to disband WICB then they must collectively decree that they no longer have confidence and have no further interest in WICB or its representation and proceed to form a new body. Vest all powers in the new body to act on behalf of the Caribbean Member States and petition the ICC to recognize this new body”.
This is why they must take the more radical approach that I am proposing.
These Caribbean leaders can hardly perform the basic duties they were elected to do in their respective islands but is West Indies cricket you want them to come and interfere with eh. Keep these politicians out of West Indies cricket!!!!
I keep hearing folks harping about the WICB. What about these greedy disloyal cricketers who turn their back on the system that made them household names just for money?
The West Indian cricketers need greater blame for the status of West Indies cricket than the WICB. Boards like the Pakistan Cricket Board, Sri Lanka Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board have constant upheavals and strife yet you ain’t see their issues keeping back their respective cricket teams from performing on the international scene.
Explain to me how is it the WICB’s fault when despite numerous training opportunities provided to these cricketers, they fail to apply themselves at the crease, field poorly and bowlers fail to be consistent.
You are right that some of the players need to embrace all opportunities and most see honesty, loyalty and perseverance as virtues to pursue. But where proper management and integrity is lacking then the “common cause and vision is lost. I agree that some of the players are lost causes in the quest for redemption and resurgence of West Indies cricket.
in the article above I summed up the solution as follows:
“West Indies players must then be given a new common “CAUSE” reflecting the new dispensation around which to rally. We started declining when we stopped seeing the “common cause” against marginalization and neocolonialism once we were accepted by virtue of our Team’s phenomenal feats from the late 70’s to the early 90’s. That “new cause” must be nurtured in the new teams but especially at the grass roots up and crystalized at The Sagicor West Indies Cricket High Performance Centre”.
I disagree with you. Treat your wife with respect and she will never run away from you (Singing Francine)
I think we both agree that the players must be treated with respect. I am simply and objectively saying that SOME of the players need to embrace all opportunities and most see honesty, loyalty and perseverance as virtues to pursue. BUT where proper management and integrity is lacking then the “common cause and vision is lost. I agree that some of the players are lost causes in the quest for redemption and resurgence of West Indies cricket.
A closer read would reveal that we both agree.
