By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has not yet formalised its decision for whom they will vote to be the next president of Cricket West Indies (CWI).
Businessman Anand Sanasie, who is also Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), and a director on CWI, is challenging incumbent Ricky Skerritt for the post of CWI president. However, in an invited comment on Monday evening, First vice-president of JCA, Dr Donovan Bennett, told Chronicle Sport that the JCA has not declared its position publicly since the board has not yet called a meeting to have a formal decision in place. “The board has not formalised its decision as yet … I know that the information has been sent to the board members, but we have not yet called a meeting to have a formal decision in place … a date for that meeting is not set,” said Dr Bennett, who is also the Chairman of CWI’s Medical Advisory Committee. Dr Bennett, who is a medical doctor with over 45 years’ experience further pointed out, “This is my personal opinion … I don’t see any reason why Jamaica would want to change its position from the people’s selection … like I said before I want to emphasise that is my take on that, but the JCB will have to meet, discuss and come to a position that is binding.

Asked if he thinks that Sanasie, who formally announced his candidacy last week citing the need for visionary leadership, has those credentials to challenge Skerritt, Dr Bennett, who is the Chief Medical Officer for the current Super50 tournament and for the Sir Lanka upcoming tour said, “Let’s put it this way, he (Sanasie) has the right as we speak now to challenge Mr Skerritt. Now, depending on what happens in Guyana in the next two weeks, I may change my opinion on that, but at this point in time, I think he is a legitimate candidate.”
To date, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has declared its support for the current leadership of CWI in the lead-up to the virtual Annual General Meeting set for March 28. According to the Trinidad Guardian, Skerritt and Dr Kishore Shallow were nominated by Leeward Islands Cricket Board and were seconded by the TTCB. The incumbents are being challenged by Sanasie and Barbados Cricket Association vice-president Calvin Hope, who is also a CWI director.