WEST Indies cricket legend Sir Clive Lloyd has expressed his support for appointing Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, as the new chairman of the CARICOM sub-committee on cricket.
Outgoing chairman Dr Keith Rowley announced on Friday during the conclusion of the 48th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Barbados.
According to an article written by Phillip Spooner, Sir Clive, one of cricket’s most celebrated captains and a pivotal figure in the sport’s history, hailed Dr Ali’s appointment, stating that his fellow countryman is well-equipped to excel in this vital role.
He praised Ali’s deep commitment to cricket and his vision for fostering growth and unity among the Caribbean nations.

“I welcome Dr Ali’s appointment to this crucial and strategic post in our cricket team. He has shown a profound love for the game and a clear understanding of what is needed to advance it,” Sir Clive remarked. He urged Dr Ali to focus on grassroots and pathway programmes, emphasizing the importance of rebuilding West Indies cricket to reclaim its status on the world stage.

Sir Clive underscored the urgent need for dialogue among CARICOM, Cricket West Indies (CWI), and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address the sport’s unique challenges in the Caribbean. “We must re-establish ourselves as a major force in cricket,” he said, calling for a renewed emphasis on club and school cricket across the region.

During the meeting, Dr. Rowley announced that this would be his final CARICOM summit, and he would pass the leadership baton to Dr. Ali.
“This is the end of my tenure as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and my last meeting at CARICOM. I have handed over to my colleague from Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who is an eminent cricketer,” Dr Rowley stated.

He highlighted that discussions on West Indies cricket had taken place during the three-day meeting, albeit without delving into specifics, as there had been progress in previous talks in Guyana and Trinidad.
“We have consistently included West Indies cricket in our meetings and have seen positive results from our efforts,” Dr Rowley concluded.