TTCB boss: CWI election no-shows leave directors 'shocked, disappointed'

PRESIDENT of the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath said he was "shocked" by the absences of representatives from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) at Sunday's Cricket West Indies' (CWI) Annual General Meeting, resulting in its postponement to April 11.

Incumbent president Ricky Skerritt and vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow were expected to be challenged by Guyana's Anand Sanasie and vice-president candidate Calvin Hope of Barbados.

A CWI media release on Sunday said the AGM was supposed to start at 10 am but was adjourned owing to a lack of quorum.

CWI said, "The meeting therefore could not proceed to business as the CWI Articles of Association stipulate that nine representatives of the full members need to be present in person to constitute a quorum. All eight representatives duly authorised to represent the Jamaica Cricket Association, Leeward Islands Cricket Board, TT Cricket Board (TTCB) and the Windward Islands Cricket Board were present."

Speaking to Newsday after the AGM's postponement, Bassarath said, "I think we were more than surprised and shocked. What has happened has been unprecedented in the West Indies Cricket Board...There was no indication from Barbados or Guyana that they would have not attended the meeting...I think all the directors were very surprised by what took place and also very disappointed."

CWI Articles of Associations state that if there is no quorum within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, it shall be adjourned to the next business day or to such time as the board of directors may determine.

CWI said attempts to reach the representatives from the BCA and GCB were unsuccessful. The meeting was eventually adjourned at 10.50 am.

The CWI board of directors subsequently held an emergency board meeting and decided that the AGM will resume on April 11 at 10 am.

Bassarath hopes the elections can be successfully held in two weeks with the GCB and the BCA present.

"I do hope that they are going to put their differences behind them and let us come together and vote for the benefit of West Indies cricket."

Bassarath reiterated that the TTCB will support Skerritt and Dr Shallow.

"We have made a decision and we are sticking to the decision that we made some time ago – that our support is for Ricky Skerritt as president and Kishore Shallow for vice-president."

Bassarath hopes the election drama does not affect the West Indies in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, which bowls off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, on Monday.

"We are also more disappointed too, knowing fully well that West Indies will be taking the field to play a Test match and we don't know what sort of psychological disadvantage this may have on the management team and the players, because it will give the impression as if there is disunity among the directors of West Indies Cricket Board."