PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The appointment of a senior team manager is expected to be one of the major topics of discussion when West Indies Cricket Board directors hold a crucial two-day meeting in Jamaica this week ahead of Saturday’s annual general meeting.
Former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner, who managed the side on the Test and One-Day tours of Australia and in the recent Zimbabwe series, is now out of contract.
Also the Barbados Cricket Association president and a WICB director, Garner took over management of the side from Lance Gibbs for the important Test tour Down Under last November when the senior players returned to the side following the bitter contracts dispute.
The directors are also expected to look at the appointment of a coach and manager for the upcoming A-team series against Zimbabwe at home and tours of Bangladesh, Ireland and England.
On the first day of the meeting at the Pegasus Hotel in the capital Kingston on Thursday, the WICB directors are expected to deal with commercial matters and financial reports.
They are expected to mull over the marketing of cricket in the region, especially with the WICB’s failure to attract sponsors for their regional first class tournament and limited overs competition.
A report from an English firm, hired to assist in the marketing area, will also be discussed.
On Friday, directors will look at the CEO’s report along with other tour reports, as well as discuss the development of the West Indies team which continues to languish down the standings in international cricket.
They will look over a definitive framework for the team’s preparation for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in Asia as well as examine the Test and One-Day International tour of Sri Lanka later this year.
Additionally, the final 15-man squad for the upcoming World Twenty20 Championship is expected to be ratified.
The much talked about regional Twenty20 in July will also be up for discussion with the venues and final dates expected to be ironed out.
