By Vinode Mamchan

PORT-OF-SPAIN, T&T – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has told the chairman of the Prime Ministerial Sub-committee on cricket Dr Ralph Gonsalves that they will not entertain any meeting with his group unless the president of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dave Cameron is present.

Dr Gonsalves the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines has written to the ICC asking for a meeting with the world cricket body during the upcoming CHOGM in England, April 18-20.

Guardian Media was able to secure a letter sent by the ICC to Dr Gonsalves and copied to the Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Keith Rowley and in it they clearly state that they will not meet with the Sub-committee unless Cameron is present.

Chief Executive of ICC, Dave Richardson, responding on behalf of the chairman of the ICC Shashank Manohar stated in the letter:

“I refer to your letter dated March 14, 2018 addressed to the ICC Chairman Mr Manohar. He has requested me to reply on his behalf.  Mr Manohar is amenable to a meeting with the PMSC at a convenient date but since Cricket West Indies is our Member he is firmly of the view that the meeting should not take place without the attendance of the Chairman of the Cricket West Indies Board, Mr Cameron.

“The ICC offices are located in Dubai and Mr Manohar is based in Nagpur, India. Your proposal to meet in London during the course of your CHOGM from April 18-20, 2018 will unfortunately not be possible, especially since we are holding our quarterly Board and Committee meetings in Kolkata from April 21-26. As you may be aware, the ICC is staging an ICC Women’s World T20 in the Caribbean in November this year. In the absence of an alternative, this may provide a more convenient opportunity to meet.”

Cameron is a highly respected member of the ICC and coming through Cricket West Indies (CWI) and sources close to the situation told Guardian Media that the ICC will no way snub him to meet with the Sub-committee since they want to discuss West Indies cricket and it is only fair that Cameron sits in.