by HAYDN GILL THE Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has been asked to reinstate Tino Best to the national team for this weekend’s WICB regional four-day match against Jamaica.
If the local governing body doesn’t, it could face legal action.
This turn of events follows Best’s non-selection for the second successive match after he was dropped on disciplinary grounds for the previous game against England Lions that ended last Monday at Kensington Oval.
Attorney-at-law Ralph Thorne QC, acting on behalf of the exuberant fast bowler, revealed to the MIDWEEK NATION yesterday that he was given the impression by the BCA’s top brass that Best would be reinstated after a one-match suspension.
In an effort to have the matter resolved, Thorne wrote to the BCA yesterday requesting that a mediator be appointed to deal with the issue.
“With respect to the process of litigation, I am not being trigger-happy. I believe that this matter can be resolved without the parties having to go to court. I believe we can resolve this by mediation if the board is willing to do that,” Thorne said.
“I am very grateful to the board for meeting with me at very short notice last week. The board showed a willingness to deal with the matter and to negotiate fairly.
“In that entire spirit, I still think the matter can be resolved. I am expecting that it be dealt with with as much alacrity this week as it was dealt with last week.”
The 29-year-old Best was Barbados’ most outstanding fast bowler in the opening match of the competition against Trinidad and Tobago.
Two days before the match against England Lions – last Wednesday – Best expressed concern about some of the fitness drills from strength and conditioning trainer Shannon Lashley by using words he described as unbecoming of a professional cricketer.
It led to his omission from the team that was announced later in the day, and he offered a public apology the following day when his attorney met with key BCA officials, including president Joel Garner, first vice-president Conde Riley and chief executive officer Dr Roland Toppin.
“I left the meeting understanding that it was a suspension. The NATION and other media houses said that it was a suspension on disciplinary grounds. The BCA has not denied it,” Thorne said.
“Everybody understands that it is a suspension. With that understanding, we also understood he would sit this one [the last match] out and be back [this weekend].
“The board established a policy that he will be reinstated after the suspension. Maybe their internal mechanisms were not at work. Maybe the selectors were not informed of this meeting and the content . . . .”
