Sir Clive supports President Ali as new head of CARICOM sub-committee on cricket

West Indies cricket icon Sir Clive Lloyd has welcomed the news that Guyana President Dr Irfaan Ali has been named the new chairman of the CARICOM sub-committee on cricket.

The announcement was made by outgoing chairman Dr Rowley on Friday during the final day of the 48th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Barbados.

Sir Clive, one the most successful captains and one of the most influential figures in cricket history, gave Dr Ali a rousing endorsement and said he expects his fellow countryman to serve very well in the pivotal position.

He added that with Ali’s immense passion for the game of cricket and his desire to see growth, development and unity among the nations of the West Indies, this augurs well.

“I welcome the appointment of Dr Ali to this very crucial and strategic post in our cricket. He is one of the leaders around the region who has demonstrated his love for cricket and a true understanding of what is required to move the game forward,” Sir Clive said yesterday.

“I want to urge him to pay great attention to the grassroots and pathway programmes around the region as we aim to rebuild and become a force in world cricket once more. This is a pivotal juncture in the history of our cricket with talk in certain circles about a two-tier Test system and other elements which could be deemed challenges to the game in the West Indies.”

Sir Clive said that one of the most urgent matters to be tackled is the return of West Indies cricket to its position at the apex in world cricket. He called for dialogue between CARICOM, Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the peculiar challenges which cricket in the Caribbeans faces.

“We are a unique part of the cricket world and we hold a special place in the cricket world.

We have to re-establish ourselves as a major player and a force in the game. One urgent area to address is the development, with programmes and projects starting at the grassroots and pathways … I would like to see CARICOM focus on the clubs and schools across the region.”

Speaking at the Wyndham Hotel last weekend, Dr Rowley revealed it would be his final CARICOM meeting and handed over the baton to Dr. Ali.

“…This is the end of my tenure as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and my last meeting at CARICOM … I handed over to the plenary selected, or agreed to select, my colleague from Guyana, who is an eminent cricketer, as you know, President Dr. Irfaan Ali to now take the chairmanship of the sub-committee on cricket,” Dr. Rowley said.

“We maintain our interest in the potential for West Indies cricket to remain at the high level internationally and the preservation of our legacy and the heads of government should continue to be interested in what goes on in West Indies cricket and assist wherever we can.”

Dr. Rowley said West Indies cricket had been discussed during the three-day meeting, although not in detail. He said this was because progress had been made in some areas following talks in Guyana and Trinidad.

“In recent times, we have not been having heads of government meetings without having a component from West Indies cricket. We did have some discussion, not too much detail, because we have done some work before in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, and we’ve seen some results,” Dr. Rowley said. (Phillip Spooner)