I read with a measure of optimism a few days later that through our Prime Minister Keith Rowley, the heads of Caricom have agreed that a solution to West Indies cricket’s free fall on the international cricket landscape must be found. But on March 7, I fell into despair after reading the headline, WICB rejects Caricom initiative.
Take the following for example: Recently, the WICB president has asked for the construction of cricket academies throughout the Caribbean. For what purpose, I ask? For who to use?
The cricket targeted at under-19 level cannot possibly benefit from such an academy as it is totally impractical. All students aged 11 to 18 spend 36 weeks in school per year, which in T&T means September to December, January to April, May to July with the long holiday break falling between July to August (football season) and regional cricket competitions.
If our students are in school Monday to Friday as they should be, how and when are they going to these so-called academies? Cricket season is January to May and in this period they play for their schools during the week and their clubs on weekends. Isn’t it obvious that the focus should be the strengthening of the club structure and its links to the local secondary schools and community?
I urge the Prime Minister to circle himself with the views of a wide cross-section of cricket lovers who have a genuine commitment to change; people who have ideas (that have been ignored by successive TTCB administrations) and who can come together to brainstorm a way forward with no power-seeking agenda.
Though I have not asked, such a group can include former WIPA president Dinnanath Ramnarine; Tony Harford, president/chair Preysal Cricket Club; Bryan Davis (unmatched in experience and knowledge of club administration); the successful school coaches at Naparima College, Presentation College Chaguanas, Fatima College; and one or two respected umpires, myself—former QPCC captain and parent of a former West Indies under-19 World Cup finalist; and Mr Williams (now TTFA president) but former administrator of the now defunct Wanderers Cricket Club.
For obvious reasons I have left out all links to those at TTCB. Any person who is an executive where you have the right to vote yourself back into office must have an agenda and therefore cannot be part of any change process. But the people suggested have enormous hands-on knowledge and can provide great insight on the areas to fix.
Please Mr Prime Minister, now is the time. Caricom Heads and the Caribbean public are in full support of the move to fix West Indies cricket but we must first fix each territory.
Brent Augustus,
Former Trinidad Under 19,
Former captain, QPCC