The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) today announced that Barbadian Sir Wes Hall has been appointed to the Task Force which is looking into the abandoned tour of India.
Sir Wes joins attorney Michael Gordon QC, the Chairman and the Honourable Dennis Lalor. More members may be appointed if needed.
Among the updates from recent meetings of the Board of Directors, the WICB also refuted media reports that senior team manager Sir Richie Richardson had been fired.
The full release is below:
Following a meeting of the Board of Directors by teleconference today to discuss the upcoming West Indies tour of South Africa, the West Indies Cricket Board will, next week, provide dates on which the West Indies Test and Limited Overs squads will be announced.
Further the Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board held meetings by teleconference on Thursday, October 30 and Tuesday, November 4. Updates from these meetings are as follows:
Michael Gordon QC – Chairman; Sir Wes Hall; Honourable Dennis Lalor
The WICB may add members to the Task Force pending their agreement.
The Secretary to the Task Force is WICB attorney Alanna Medford. M. Gerard Pinard will serve as Industrial Relations advisor to the Task Force.
The WICB wishes to make it explicitly clear that contrary to media reports, Sir Richie Richardson has not been removed as Team Manager of the West Indies Team.
Further the WICB confirms receipt of a letter from the BCCI. The WICB will continue to use its best endeavours to meet with the BCCI to discuss all relevant matters pertaining to the premature end to the tour of India. The WICB respects the decisions of the BCCI but continues to trust that discussions can result in a mutually agreeable resolution.
The WICB reiterates that the events which led to the premature end to the tour of India were extremely unfortunate and the WICB is committed to ensuring that such events do not recur.
The WICB also confirms receipt of a letter from the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, The Honourable Dr Ralph Gonsalves. The WICB has responded to Prime Minister Dr Gonsalves. The response is attached. The formal response followed several telephone conversations between Dr Gonsalves and WICB President Mr Dave Cameron.
At the request of Prime Minister Dr Gonsalves, Mr Cameron, met, with Mr Dwayne Bravo and WIPA representatives in Port of Spain on Friday last, where Mr Cameron was for a meeting of the WICB Governance Committee.
Prime Minister Dr Gonsalves facilitated the meeting along with Prime Minister of Grenada, The Honourable Dr Keith Mitchell.
Vice President Emmanuel Nanthan, Director Baldath Mahabir and Corporate Secretary Verlyn Faustin also attended the meeting representing the WICB along with the Board’s attorney Luke Hamel-Smith.
WIPA President and CEO Wavell Hinds and the player association attorney Patrick Foster QC participated via Skype.
Mr Denesh Ramdin and attorney-at-law Ralph Thorne QC joined Mr Bravo in representing the interest of players who were on the tour of India (save for Marlon Samuels).
The WICB advises that following the meeting, the Board sent a draft joint statement to the attorneys representing WIPA and the players and is awaiting the response of the players’ attorney. A statement will be provided once such response is received.
The WICB thanks the Honourable Prime Ministers for their interest in and facilitation of this matter and looks forward to their continued support and that of CARICOM with regard to the response to the communique from the BCCI.
