The most successful captain in the history of West Indies cricket now has the mantle to find the best boys in maroon.
Legendary former captain Clive Lloyd has been appointed the new convenor of the West Indies selection panel.
This follows a decision of the West Indies Cricket Board not to renew the contracts of members of the current panel.
The board also announced yesterday that former West Indies fast bowlers Eldine Baptiste and Courtney Walsh have been appointed to the new panel which also includes former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Courtney Browne – who had also been retained – and current West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson, as well as the team captain as a non-voting member.
Previous chairman, former Test off-spinner Clyde Butts and former leg-spin all-rounder Robert Haynes have made way for the new panel.
The changes were approved at a directors’ meeting of the WICB held on July 12 in Antigua and were announced by Director of Cricket Richard Pybus, who confirmed that Lloyd had been contracted for two years to head up the panel.
“We welcome the introduction of Clive Lloyd – one of the true legends of West Indies cricket – to the selection panel for the first time,” said Pybus.
“We are also glad that an iconic fast bowler like Courtney Walsh, and highly experienced, former international player and coach like Eldine Baptiste have accepted to perform this important function.”
Pybus added: “Courtney Browne is retained on the panel as both selector and regional talent manager with a specialist focus on youth and women’s cricket.
“We look forward to their input as we continue to work on building a strong and sustainable cricket system that produces elite cricketers for the West Indies senior teams.”
Pybus thanked Butts and Haynes for their contribution over the last two terms, when they worked together with Browne to form the core of the panel.
“We thank Clyde and Robert for their commitment and professionalism, and the job they have done in a challenging period in West Indies history and we wish them well in their future endeavours,” said Pybus.
“During their tenure, West Indies were crowned World Twenty20 champions and rose briefly to No.5 in the ICC Test World Rankings.”
Following his retirement from playing the game after a career that included 110 Tests and 87 One-day Internationals between 1966 and 1985, Lloyd has served West Indies and international cricket in various ways. He has been a West Indies coach, manager and board director, and currently serves on the WICB’s debriefing panel which assesses team performances following series and tours.
The 51-year-old Walsh played 132 Tests and 205 ODIs between 1984 and 2001. He has remained close to the game in the region too, serving as manager for the West Indies Under-19 side to the 2012 ICC Youth World Cup.
The 54-year-old Baptiste appeared in 10 Tests and 43 One-day Internationals for West Indies between 1983 and 1990.
The new panel will convene for the first time during the course of this week. (BA/PR)
