… says they have not performed off the field

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Incumbent Cricket West Indies (CWI) president, Dave Cameron, has accused some legendary former players of not “delivering the goods” when given the chance to do so in the boardroom.

As such, the controversial Jamaican argued that the value of these great former players lay in their ambassadorial roles in promoting West Indies cricket, not in cricket administration.
Several iconic figures, including Sir Viv Richards, Sir Andy Roberts and Clive Lloyd, have come out in support of Cameron’s challenger, the former St Kitts and Nevis government minister, Ricky Skerritt, ahead of today’s CWI presidential elections here.

In his comments, Sir Viv said Skerritt’s election was necessary in order to bring “respectability” back to the office of president while Lloyd made reference to the “decimation” of West Indies cricket “especially under this administration”.
Cameron said he was unfazed by the criticism.

“We will continue to support them. As a matter of fact, we don’t take it personal and we believe that they believe that the opposition can provide a different way,” the Observer newspaper quoted him as saying.

“We believe in standards and processes and some of those persons (legends) we have given opportunities in almost every area of West Indies cricket, except probably being the president, and they haven’t delivered the goods except playing on the field.”

Lloyd, who led West Indies to historic triumphs at the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, has served as team manager and more recently chairman of selectors while Sir Viv, who never lost a Test series as captain, had a spell as chief selector and Windies coach.
Sir Andy, a member of Lloyd’s fearsome fast bowling battery of the 1970s and 80s, also served in capacities as coach and selector.

Speaking ahead of his bid for a fourth successive term, Cameron defended his administration use of the Windies legends, pointing out they had been used to promote such global events as the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup last November.

“We use them as ambassadors. They were just ambassadors for the Women’s World T20 and any opportunities like that we will use them, but we don’t take much credence from what their views are in respect to administration, but we respect them,” he said.

“The reason why we are West Indies Cricket is because of them, so we respect them. We are not thinking too much about that and at the end of the election come next week. We will treat with that going forward.”

Cameron, re-elected unopposed in 2017, has received a stiff challenge this time around from Skerritt and running mate Dr Kishore Shallow.
Not only have legendary former players not backed him but at least two sitting prime ministers, Dr Keith Michell of Grenada and Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, have signalled their support for Skerritt/Shallow ticket.

However, Cameron remained upbeat about his chances, maintaining that with Barbados, Guyana and Windward Islands behind him and providing six of the 12 votes up for grabs, he simply could not lose.

“At this point, and I think you heard the vice-president (Emmanuel Nanthan) say it, we can’t lose the election,” he contended.

“Obviously we would like to hear that Jamaica is in support going forward, but at this point in time we can’t lose the election. We have six secured votes, and not just votes, but you see the leadership of those organisations coming out in support of us.”

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) is yet to declare their support for a candidate, after hosting meetings with both last week while the Leeward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago have already endorsed Skerritt.