Dear Editor,
I became alarmed when I heard Jimmy Adams, the new development officer, say that there had to be a process before the selection policy could be changed, and that would take some time. That is even more so given that the Chairman of Selectors said that it would not be wise to drop all the new players who had been tried. When I noted that two series were played without the change having been effected, I considered cancelling my flight; but I then convinced myself that maybe the process would stretch out till the Indian tour. However, late at night I got the bombshell: I realized then that the WICB people were reading my letters to Stabroek News, and decided to deal me a personal blow. Their decision seemed as irrational as that, because I did tell Mr Brown that he need not have played 4 newbies all at once, and that it would help if the newbies got the benefit of playing with even 3 or 4 experienced players.
The whole business is bizarre, and I am forced to concede that I am incapable of understanding the motivation of these ‘big’ men. It’s tough enough to figure out how they abandoned Sarwan, Gayle, Bravo Sr, Narine, Simmons, Samuels, Pollard and Ramdin so easily, but Sammy was such a gentleman that I find it impossible to comprehend how the board dealt with such a favourite son in such an unkind manner. The WICB must be the only sporting organization in the whole world that does not consider winning as important. There is something unhealthy about that organization, and I worry for the future of Mr Adams and all the decent folks who try to support West Indian cricket.
Yours faithfully,
Romain Pitt
