Tony Becca
THE WEST Indies Cricket Board is looking for a new president. One man has already thrown his hat into the ring, based on the word going the rounds, two men are being encouraged to do likewise, and the question is, who will it be, or who should it be.
The hat in the ring belongs to Tony Marshall, the banker who is a former president of the Barbados Cricket Association and member of the WICB.
The two who, so far, are being encouraged to contest the position are Deryck Murray, the former Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies wicketkeeper, and Ken Gordon, a media mogul out of Trinidad and Tobago.
As a former Test cricketer Murray would obviously bring something to the table and as a businessman, so too would Gordon.
As one involved with cricket for years, however, as one who also managed the West Indies team, Marshall, it appears, would be the best bet of the three, even though in this den of insularity it would make him - behind Wes Hall and Teddy Griffith - the third Barbadian in a row in the position.
With all its problems, however, with the West Indies set to host the World Cup in 2007, West Indies cricket needs a leader with a combination of skills.
FUNDING
It's the kind of skills which, mixed with a passion for the game, with a history of involvement in the game, will, among other things, generate funding for West Indies cricket, bring peace in West Indies cricket as far as the Board and the Players Association and the Board and its sponsors are concerned, and will protect the interests of West Indies cricket as far as the World Cup is concerned.
In other words, West Indies cricket needs a top class leader, one who is good, really good, who is strong, really strong, and who is firm, really firm.
One such man is Clarvis Joseph of Antigua, a former member of the Board, a former vice-president of the Board, and the one who contested the position two years ago.
The best man for the job, however, is Pat Rousseau, the former chairman of the Board's marketing committee and the former president who was elected unanimously and then was forced to resign because of the actions of short-sightedmembers of the Board who, despite saying that changes were needed, were prepared to sit around and do nothing about it, and who, when changes were made, when changes were attempted, revolted probably in an attempt to protect the status quo.
Since then, however, things have been such that there has been talk of bringing back Rousseau. Since then members of the Board have hinted that they would like to have Rousseau back as president, and although Rousseau must still be hurting by the attack on him, although it probably would be difficult for him to let bygones be bygones, in the interest of West Indies cricket it would be nice to get him back as president.
Would Rousseau accept another term as president of the Board?
LOVE FOR THE GAME
Although he has said "no" time and time again, such is his love for the game, such is his love for West Indies cricket, that he probably would accept it if he believes that he is really wanted - not by two or three Board members but by a majority of them and definitely by those in cricket right around the region.
West Indies cricket is passing through some difficult times and needs a good and strong president.
On top of that, the World Cup is around the corner. There will be a lot of work before the first ball is bowled and who better to be involved in the leadership position than the man who led the fight for it, who never stopped till he got it, and who therefore has a vested interest in seeing that it is a success and that West Indies cricket gets what it should from it.
West Indies cricket needs a man like Rousseau and although no one knows what he would decide if he is asked, although there may be those who want him back as the president but are not prepared to ask, such is the state of West Indies cricket that if they are really interested in West Indies cricket, they should do so - and in such a way that he cannot refuse.
