Voice of West Indies cricketers with a mission

Dubai: Former West Indies Test star Dinanath Ramnarine minced no words in blaming poor administration of the game behind the Caribbeans’ slipping away in the game’s pecking order.

Now on invitation from Kerala Cricket League (KCL), Ramnarine, a former president and CEO of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) for 10 years said: “Talent has always been there in our country. The issue was about our board’s administration of the game. Recently the Caricom (The Independent Review Panel of the Caribbean Community Sub-Committee on Cricket Governance) which was appointed by the Prime Minister had recommended to disband the West Indies Cricket Board. It is very strong and relevant because I think the West Indies Cricket Board has failed to live up to the expectations of good governance.”

“I was head of players association for ten years and now try to promote the game. I am happy to be associated with Kerala Cricket League because I am one who always backed the whole concept and idea of promoting cricket not only in the West Indies but around the world. We share that vision,” he said.

Ramnarine who was a very effective leg spinner had played in 12 Test matches and four One-dayers but all through his career had brushes with the board over injustice and retired from the game at 28 and has fought for players’ rights from then on.

When asked does youngsters take to cricket like in the past, Ramnarine said: “There are enough playing cricket but of course other sports are also improving their structure and therefor people are getting attracted to it. When I was growing up there was only cricket and soccer. Now you have swimming and lot of guys are getting to participate in Olympics. In Athletics we have Usain Bolt and when he had to choose between cricket and athletics and he choose athletics and today he is the fastest man in the world. People have more opportunities now and television has given us the opportunity to look at other sport and events.”