Controversy is brewing between Barbados and the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) over the selection of cousins Jonathan Carter and Carlos Brathwaite.
The two have been selected in Barbados’ 14-man squad for next month’s Regional Super 50 one-day tournament in Guyana but their preference to play for the CCC could now be mediated by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). CCC is yet to announce their squad.
According to CCC’s assistant manager Steven Leslie, Carter informed the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and chairman of selectors George Linton at least two days before the squad was chosen of his intention to represent CCC.
“The fundamental point is that the selectors should have and would have had information from that young man (Carter) stating that he had an interest to play for CCC,” said Leslie as he sought to put Carter’s position during a radio call-in programme this week.
“It (which team to play for) is going to be dealt with at the highest possible level,” added Leslie.
But WICB director Conde Riley, who is also the chairman of the BCA’s Cricket Committee, has chided the CCC on the same programme for not making the two players aware of their obligations to Barbados as contracted players.
“What has happened is so disappointing in the way that it has come to this because I don’t think players should have to choose between playing for their country and playing for the CCC,” Riley said.
Riley said both Carter and Brathwaite were given BCA contracts and have been paid a monthly salary because they were seen as cricketers who had a contribution to make to Barbados cricket.
“This to me, is disappointing that these guys are opting not to play for their country. We thought that they were the sort of players that would be in our set-up for a number of years. Both came right through our system and that’s why when we were choosing players for contracts, we offered them contracts,” Riley said.
He added that Linton followed the established policy, set out by the WICB, in picking players who also qualify to play for CCC.
“He knows that the territory has first choice . . . Our selectors have done nothing wrong. Not only Barbados, all the territories have first choice,” Riley pointed out.
“The guys know that they sign contracts . . . and what the contractual obligations were. Now to accept the money would make the BCA feel that the guys are in our set-up, so to come two days or so before the team is picked, or on the day the team is picked, is rather unfortunate,” he said.
Riley said CCC are also aware of the existing WICB?policy in relation to players who qualify to play for both sides.
“CCC knows the policy as well too. They know that the territories have first choice and even if the guys had discussed it with them, they should have made it clear to them, ‘whereas you may say this, or where you may feel comfortable, this is the rule,’ so therefore, through (Sir Hilary) Beckles, they would have to come to the Cricket Committee of the West Indies Cricket Board and ask to make a change,” Riley explained.
He said the WICB?have allowed the CCC?outfit to participate in the regional competitions as a support organization for the territories.
“We had guys with an academic leaning, who we didn’t want not to be playing cricket at the first-class level and that’s the reason. But they are not there to win competition per se,”?he said.
Riley also revealed that arrangements were made for Brathwaite, who has a developmental contract, to receive his salary from the BCA?before he left for Bangladesh with the West Indies One-Day team.
Carter has been representing Barbados in one-day cricket since 2008 and has also played first-class and Twenty20 cricket for the country. He has never played for CCC.
Brathwaite has only played one Twenty20 match for Barbados but represented CCC?in this year’s regional first-class championship.
