ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The recent impasse between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association has left legendary off-spinner Lance Gibbs terribly disappointed.
The 74-year-old, the finest spinner to emerge from the Caribbean, believes the affair could have been handled differently to ensure that cricket was not affected.
“Cricket is dear to me as I have said before and these guys should have sat down and discussed the issue further,” Gibbs said.
“This is the only cricketing nation in the world where such has happened and players have gone on strike. In years gone by there was the Kerry Parker set-up and they were still able to get together after a while and played for their country.
“So West Indies cricket means a lot to me and I am really saddened by what is currently happening,” Gibbs lamented.
Citing pay and contract issues, the first choice Windies players withheld their services for the two-Test series against Bangladesh forcing selectors to hastily assemble a makeshift squad.
The squad comprised only four players with Test experience, with none of them having played over 12 Tests.
As a result, Bangladesh won both matches convincingly to claim their first series win overseas.
Gibbs, who is currently in Dominica as the DIGICEL Ambassador, had high praise for the second-string squad despite the disappointing series result.
“They performed extremely well during the Test series and they showed a certain level of ability,” said Gibbs whose 309 wickets from 79 Tests made him the West Indies’ highest wicket-taker at one stage.
“However, I was very disappointed indeed because of the impasse that we have had [and that] some of the better players withdrew or went on strike.
“To me, cricket is so much that winning becomes a habit and when you’ve played in great sides and you know what winning is all about and what it means to the people of the Caribbean, [this situation is disappointing].
“I was deeply disappointed because of the impasse and the series loss to Bangladesh here in the Caribbean.”
The makeshift Windies side will face Bangladesh in the first of two One-Day Internationals here beginning today at Windsor Park.
