Ricky Skerritt set for 2nd innings at Cricket West Indies helm

RICKY Skerritt will be unopposed for the position of president of Cricket West Indies (CWI) when the postponed annual general meeting is held virtually on Sunday.

Skerritt was first elected president of CWI in March 2019.

The AGM was originally scheduled to be held on March 28, but the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) boycotted the elections, which led to the postponement.

Anand Sanasie was expected to challenge Skerritt in the elections, but then decided not to run.

Vice-president Dr Kishore Shallow will also be unopposed at the AGM ,as Calvin Hope has also withdrawn.

In a statement received by Newsday on April 1, Sanasie said, “After deep reflection and consultations with my advisers I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for presidency of CWI. I will shortly write to the corporate secretary to advise her accordingly. Consequently, I take this opportunity to extend congratulations and best wishes to Mr Ricky Skerritt since he will be uncontested. I urge that more deliberate efforts be made to strengthen the finances of CWI and to improve in the areas of prudent fiscal management, accountability and transparency.”

In a WhatsApp message to Newsday on Saturday, Skerritt confirmed that Sanasie had officially withdrawn. “I have just been informed that Mr Sanasie this afternoon submitted his letter of withdrawal from the election. His running mate (Hope) did so more than a week ago. Both Dr Shallow and myself are therefore now unopposed,” Skerritt said.

Sanasie served as secretary of the GCB executive that was defeated in the GCB elections on March 29.

He and Anand Kalladeen, who served as treasurer on the previous GCB, were the CWI directors representing the GCB under former GCB president Dru Bahadur.

Bahadur was replaced by Bissondyal Singh Snr as the GCB president.

In a Facebook post on March 28, the GCB explained why representatives did not attend the CWI AGM. The release said, “The main reason for this decision was that the current leadership of CWI failed to conform with the statutory requirements of the Articles of Association and present audited financial statement of CWI. Financial statements must be sent to shareholders 14 days before the AGM and are required to be approved by the board of directors. This was not done for the first time in decades.”

In the AGM timeline, the CWI said, “Draft CWI financial statements (were) sent to all members, having been approved by audit risk and compliance and finance committees and CWI board of directors,” on March 13.

The Windward Islands Cricket Board (WICB), the Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) and the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) all expressed its sadness that the BCA and the GCB boycotted the elections.

“The WICB expresses sadness at the turn of events at the Cricket West Indies Annual General Meeting scheduled for today March 28, 2021.”

The LICB echoed the sentiments of the WICB.

“The LICB is saddened by the events of earlier today (March 28) at the CWI AGM…the LICB is deeply troubled, perplexed and horrified that the BCA and the GCB, which are globally recognised for producing some of the greatest cricketers to have played the game, were comfortable bringing CWI in such disrepute.”

The JCA’s statement said, “This (boycott) comes at a time when we need to work together to continue the rebuilding of our cricket, which requires a mature approach on the part of everyone especially those in leadership roles.”

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Azim Bassarath told Newsday the decision by the BCA and the GCB left all the directors shocked.