In the wake of his letter to WICB executive Ernest Hilaire which threatened action to clear his name, the board today said Guyanese star Shivnarine Chanderpaul remains a valued member of the team.
In a statement the WICB said that the board looks forward to Chanderpaul’s continued involvement in West Indies cricket. This latest brouhaha arose after Hilaire gave an interview on the programme Line and Length in which he suggested that the reason for the new-look Windies team was because of issues such as discipline among others.
The WICB statement today reiterated that Hilaire had mentioned no name except for where a specific question had been asked about Jamaica opening batsman Christopher Gayle. Chanderpaul, Gayle and Sarwan are not in the current one-day team for the Pakistan series and this has evoked the ire of Guyanese and West Indian fans.
Chanderpaul’s letter to Hilaire had expressed hurt over the statements made by him in the interview and had ended with the following warning “I must warn you that unless your explanations adequately deal with the matter and show themselves to be based on truth and free of malice, I will take whatever action necessary to clear my good name. While it would help if the WICB as an organization repudiates your comments in this regards, it would still not be sufficient to erase the tremendous damage already done.”
Cricket analysts have suggested that Hilaire’s comments in the interview could in no way have referred to Chanderpaul given his yeoman’s service to West Indian cricket and that the players association had been keen to use his name to object to Hilaire’s concerns which may properly relate to other players.
Below is the text of the WICB statement today
St John’s, Antigua– The WICB confirms that it has received an unsigned letter from WIPA sent on behalf of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
WICB expresses its concern and disappointment that even before the letter was received by the WICB, the media were seeking comments.
WICB CEO Dr. Ernest Hilaire has responded to Chanderpaul and WIPA indicating that at no time was he, in the interview on Line & Length, referring to any player (save for when asked a direct question pertaining to Chris Gayle).
The CEO explained in the letter to Chanderpaul that he cannot comment on what is said or reported by ESPNCricinfo and referred WIPA and Chanderpaul to the excerpts of the interview which have been published on the WICB website to ascertain the full content and context of the remarks made.
The CEO reiterated that he mentioned the name of no player and the comments were based on reports and public comments made by previous coaches.
The WICB has informed Chanderpaul that he has been and remains a valued member of the West Indies first team squad and looks forward to his continued involvement with West Indies cricket.
