By Morissa Lindsay
President of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Conde Riley, has expressed his disappointment that defending champions Barbados will not host any of the upcoming regional matches to be played by Cricket West Indies (CWI).
Riley, who also serves as director of CWI, said he brought the issue to the regional board before and nothing was done about it. However, the BCA boss did not indicate whether his board intends to take action in terms of writing a letter to CWI or addressing the situation further.
“They sent him and we don’t have a match. I’m disappointed, that’s how it is, but we will win. My boys played well already and what we will focus on is their preparation with the Legends Cup and so on. They will be fine, they will be ready. Like I said I’m very disappointed but I let it work because I already talked about it and like I said I’m disappointed but it is what it is,” Riley told Barbados TODAY.
“After the COVID we have started again at the Center of Excellence and this would prepare our younger players, U-19, U-17 and U-15, who are also the defending champions, along with the ladies,” he added.
Earlier, Riley dismissed an explanation from CWI Operations Manager Roland Holder that travel challenges within the region were a major factor in the selection of sites.
“You can’t get to any part of the Caribbean without air transportation. I don’t know if guys are going to swim in those other countries or travel by boat, but I do know that if you want to get to Barbados, the same way you get to Antigua or Grenada or St. Vincent, you get to Barbados. . . We have thousands of people all over the world in Barbados as we speak,” Riley said.
Commenting on the same issue on the Mason and Guest radio show this week, former Barbados captain and West Indies opener Philo Wallace suggested that Barbados were being excluded. BCA, under Riley, has had previous clashes with CWI under its current leadership.
“I think it’s a clear indication from Cricket West Indies that Barbados are being excluded. You cannot have Barbados as a leading nation in the region and not…. expect meaningful matches…. I would like to know from Cricket West Indies who decides the matches and who decides where these games will be played,” Wallace said.
He added: “Decision makers are not making good decisions and when you don’t make decisions, you pay the price and our price will be very, very heavy.”
While President Riley is unhappy that Barbados was not awarded a home game for 2023, it is also noted that of the 15 First Class Championship matches played in February 2022, BCA hosted two and Trinidad and Tobago had the others.
While Barbados had the luxury of hosting home matches in 2022, other territories such as Jamaica, Guyana and several others did not have the privilege of hosting any, putting them in a similar situation as Riley and the BCA.
Riley made his position known after the CWI submitted its plans for the 2023 season and Chief Executive Johnny Grave unveiled the Headley Weeks series named after the former West Indies cricket legend.
“We are delighted to unveil the Headley Weekes Series, which is a new idea that will extend the four-day season, create more opportunities for our players to showcase their skills and be a huge boost for them to strive for selection in our country. The A’ team, and finally our test team. It will also provide strong competitive red-ball cricket for our young West Indies Academy players as we continue to strive to ensure the next generation of players are groomed along the pathway to international cricket.
“While the West Indies Championship will again be played in a round, five-match format, with plans for our ‘A’ team and Academy to tour overseas after the Headley Weekes Series, we expect the best players in the region will continue to play at least ten four-day games in the first half of next year,” explained Grave.
Among its plans for 2023, the CWI also announced a triangular red-ball tournament that will begin at the end of the West Indies Championship in April.
The West Indies Championship begins in February and the first two rounds will be played from February 1 to 11 in Grenada and Antigua at the Coolidge Cricket Ground at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
After a break, the tournament will resume on March 15 to April 1 for the final three rounds which will determine the champions who will receive the inaugural Headley Weeks Trophy with the matches to be played in Trinidad at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Diego Martin Sports. Complex and Queens Park Oval.
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