(Trinidad Guardian) Embattled incumbent president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, is set to receive a challenge from former Test pacer Joel Garner when the regional cricket board hosts it annual general meeting on March 7.
T&T Guardian understands that Garner and T&T’s Baldath Mahabir will be throwing their hat into the ring for the post of president and vice-president respectively. They will come up against Cameron and his vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan from the Windward Islands.
The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) held an executive meeting on Wednesday evening and they decided that they will support Garner while nominating their own director Baldath Mahabir as his running mate. Both names will make the nomination deadline of February 14.
Garner, who is president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) will be nominated by his board and is expected to be seconded by the TTCB. Mahabir will be nominated by the TTCB and seconded by the BCA.
The key to tilting the challenge their way came from Jamaica on Tuesday night, when the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) voted 10-6 in favour of supporting Garner and Mahabir for the two top posts. Sources close to the situation is saying that Cameron has six votes, coming from Windwards, Leewards and Guyana.
However, another source close to the situation says that the Windwards will split their votes and this would give the combination of Garner and Mahabir the edge at the elections. Cameron and Nanton are both in their first terms as president and vice-president and their tenure has been tainted by the current fallout with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), over the aborted tour.
A number of individuals has called for their heads, including the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves. Earlier this week, president of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath said he was not considering running against Cameron as he thinks the time is not right for that just yet.
The TTCB has been touted as the best run cricket association in the Caribbean and Bassarath has gotten many calls for him to give it a shot. He and his executive have however, decided to support his right hand man Mahabir for the post of vice-president, while supporting Garner for the top post.
After tomorrow’s nomination is closed, the candidates will be looking to meet with directors from around the region to garner their support. However, Cameron has already been making the rounds and has met with the BCA and JCA so far.
