(Jamaica Gleaner) West Indies fast-bowling legend Andy Roberts says he is disappointed that former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd did not get the requisite support needed to be nominated president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
Roberts, who has served on various WICB committees in the past, said Lloyd, given his history and track record of leadership, would have been the ideal person for the position.
“I am not happy with recent developments surrounding the race for president,” Roberts told The Gleaner.
“They (territorial boards) are saying that Lloyd indicated late, but sometimes it is better late than never. Lloyd has a proven track record leading from the front and is a respected figure around the region.
“He would have been my choice for president, and it is just a pity the territorial boards did not accept his offer,” he added.
ONE VOTE
Lloyd, who, since leading the West Indies to World Cup glory twice in the late 1970s, has served on numerous International Cricket Council cricket committees, missed out on nomination for the post by one vote.
He was nominated by his native Guyana Cricket Board, but in the end failed to pick up a required second nomination from any of the five remaining regional governing territorial boards.
It is reported that Lloyd approached the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) for a seconded vote. However, for varying reasons, both territories declined to back him.
The TTCB said it wanted to remain neutral, while the BCA had earlier indicated its support for incumbent candidate Dr Julian Hunte.
The Jamaica Cricket Association and the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control (WICBC), in the meantime, had earlier thrown their support behind incumbent vice-president, Jamaican businessman, Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron.
It is the second time that Lloyd has failed in his attempt to become president. In a previous bid, he failed to meet residency requirements for a candidate.
The election will be held on March 27 in Barbados during the WICB’s annual general meeting.
The AGM will also see the race for vice-president being contested with former West Indies fast bowler and president of the BCA, Joel ‘Big Bird’ Garner, going up against Dominican diplomat and WICBC president, Emmanual Nanthan.
Garner and Hunte are running on the same ticket with Nanthan and Cameron partnering each other on the next.
