Former Prime Minister of Jamaica P.J. Patterson

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has been named to head a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) restructuring committee.

WICB president Ken Gordon, who made the announcement at the ICC CWC head office in New Kingston yesterday, said Patterson will be joined by Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr. Ian McDonald.

He added that a fourth person, Henry Ford, could join the team later as he was invited, but could not take up the offer at this time.

Gordon expressed pleasure at the committee and believes it's geared towards getting West Indies cricket back to the glory days.

The team will review several areas of the region's cricket and submit their finding to the board by May 31.

They have been asked to:

1. Review the performance of the WICB, past and current, and to assess its strengths and weaknesses.

2. Consult at whatever levels may be considered desirable with past or present administrators, past or present players, cricketing organisations or the general public.

3. Consider the composition and structure of the WICB and to make recommendations, which will improve its overall operations, governance effectiveness, team performance and strengthen its credibility and public support.

Though pointing out that the deadline date is short, chairman Patterson, said "we will work assiduously to file our report on time".

The former Jamaican Prime Minister also called on journalists and columnists, who he said, gave the WICB and its players a hard time, to join hands and work for the betterment of West Indies.

"We want to involve the public," he said. "We are asking you (the media) to be a partner in this," he continued.

Patterson said they have also identified ways of getting into the North American market as apart from India, North American has the largest cricket following.

"In our deliberation we are going to talk to people in marketing," Patterson added.

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