WICB President offers apology to the ICC for Sammy’s post match comments, calls it “inappropriate”.
By Rawle Toney
Darren Sammy’s highly emotional speech at the ICC’s World T20 presentation ceremony was heard around the world and while majority sympathised with the West Indies Captain and his team, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President Dave Cameron wasnt pleased.
Cameron in a release issued by the WICB, where he lauded the International Cricket Council (ICC) for hosting what is being described as the best WT20 tournament ever, also offered an apology to the game’s world governing body for Sammy’s comments, calling it “inappropriate”.
Sammy used cricket’s biggest stage to let loose a bombshell on the WICB and While he (Sammy) didnt speak of anything that’s new to ears of many of the WICB’s critics, it was the fact that he spoke and highlighted things that were only rumored about and never really came directly from the players.
“We had a new manager in this tournament in Rawl Lewis, he had never managed any team before. He came here, we were at a camp in Dubai, but we had no uniforms, no printed … he left Dubai, went to Kolkata, that’s where he started. The trouble he went to, to get us in this uniform” Sammy said.
Cameron was present in India and witnessed the West Indies’ thrilling last over finish against England to win the title for the second time, but the Jamaican didnt make contact with the team.
In fact, according to Sammy, while words of encouragement poured in from regional heads of Government, the WICB failed to reach out the team.
Coming up in May this year, the Board will host its annual review (retreat) with the players, WIPA, selectors and the technical team to review player, management and technical plans.
“We want to see how we can find common ground in ensuring that the best players in the region are available for selection for West Indies teams. 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,” said Cameron.
He added “It is therefore a priority to have all of our players competing and available for selection. We will also engage the ICC on this so that we protect not only the rich heritage and legacy of West Indies Cricket, but also its future”.
Sammy, by his own admission and knowing that he might be chastised for his comments, said “I don’t know when I’m going to be playing with these guys again because we don’t get selected for one-day cricket. We don’t know when we’re going to be playing T20”
