The Wehby Report

By BRYAN DAVIS

THERE is yet another report requested by the administration of Cricket West Indies (CWI), albeit the first for the Ricky Skerritt presidency, submitted for the perusal of the board. I sincerely wish that the new dispensation will be able to sift from this report the requirements for good governance, to lift our cricket out of the darkness of the doldrums and into the light of upliftment of its spirit.

A cricket administration can only be judged by its successful representation on the field of play.

Previously, there have been contributions from various people with a deep interest in WI cricket, the intention being to improve and develop the game to the high standard to which we had grown accustomed.

These high calibre persons of dignity and respectability and eminent standing in the Caribbean community, submitted Reports, after many long hours of research, to the West Indies Cricket Board (now CWI).

They comprised the Lucky Report (headed by Justice Anthony Lucky), the Griffith Report (Teddy Griffith, former official of CWI), the Patterson Report (PJ Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica), the Wilkin Report (Charles Wilkin, an attorney plus former first-class cricketer for Leeward Islands and Cambridge University). Unfortunately, they were all rejected.

Why, one may ask, shouldn’t implementation have taken place, when every citizen of the Caribbean is hurting and in pain, with our talented cricketers slipping into obscurity after having attained the dizzying heights of glory in the second half of the twentieth century?

The fault lies clearly with the Territorial Boards that together define the Board of CWI.

Is this latest report also to be discarded?

The Wehby Report on Governance Reform committee of CWI has as its chairman Senator Donald Wehby of Jamaica and includes: O.K. Melhado, a businessman of Jamaica; Charles Wilkin; Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, the vice-chancellor of the University of the WI; Deryck Murray, former WI cricketer and currently the TT High Commissioner to Jamaica; and Lynford Inverary, Business Planning Executive at CWI as secretary.

These six men of stature with a wide range of interests including business, academics, law, politics and professional cricket are well suited to advise on Cricket Organisation in the WI.

This report was submitted on July 30, 2020, and it is expected to be dealt with alacrity.

It is with lots of anticipation and deep feeling that the cricket-minded fans of WI would greet some newly minted rules and regulations to help guide their team to the top, as the modern world of cricket rolls on and time is running out for them to catch up! I understand there are many changes recommended.

There are also examples from other cricket countries whose cricket has improved tremendously since they introduced new ideas themselves to make for a better and smoother operation. For instance, the New Zealand Cricket case study has clearly shown that improving their Corporate Governance directly resulted in improving their on-field results.

We cannot continue to languish at the bottom of the standings thrashing about with teams like Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Ireland and Afghanistan, which have only gained relatively recent recognition in cricket’s upper echelons. However, WI has a great reputation earned through policies that flourished at the time; and now they’re struggling to beat the minnows. Therefore, change is necessary to adjust to the current era. Cricket must be taught and talent cultivated. The Task Force as represented above has laid out an entirely new administrative set-up and it is to WI’s detriment to again reject an offer for advancement. Its contents are positive, thought-provoking and appealing for all the right reasons.

CWI’s main problem is the six territorial cricket boards. And this has been the focal point of resistance all along. Each board has its constitution, structure and management practices, whereupon there is no commonality in organisation with CWI. Hence, it should be considered for governance practices to be made mandatory. There ought to be effective ways in which the CWI institution can bring the strongest possible influence to bear on member associations to improve their standards of corporate governance. The boards need to accept the Wehby Report for the betterment of WI cricket. Any perceived sacrifice would be worthwhile.

The boards would need to sacrifice for the bigger picture of WI cricket success and loosen the reigns of control so CWI could be free to do their improvement work.

Please accept the Wehby Report and save WI cricket from any further humiliation.