The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Lara sets condition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Lara sets condition

PORT-OF-BLAIR, MARCH 22. Former captain Brain Lara has said he was willing to continue in the national side provided West Indies Cricket Board reconsidered the squad for the first Test against South Africa and selected the best team with an assurance from all of the parties.

The day before, the WICB said Lara was excluded because he neither accepted nor rejected the board's invitation to be available for the first Test against South Africa in Guyana from March 31.

Lara proposed the six others become eligible for selection, but the board dismissed the idea.

In a letter to Roger Braithwaite, Chief Executive Officer of West Indies Cricket Board, Lara said: ``In the circumstances, where neither my loyalty to the players nor my loyalty to West Indies cricket can be denied, I confirm that I am ready, willing and able to continue participating in West Indies cricket, provided that, even at this late stage, the best team will be selected with an assurance from all of the parties that the outstanding issues would be brought to the table and discussed.''

All seven were originally deemed ineligible because their endorsement contracts with Cable & Wireless conflicted with the WICB's official sponsor and telecommunications rival Digicel.

While Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Ravi Rampaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Smith were prohibited from playing, the Board lifted the ban on Lara because he signed his contract with the Board's consent.

PM deplores

decision

The WCB is threatening the sport's future in the Caribbean by banning Brian Lara and six other star players over a sponsorship dispute, says Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.

Mitchell said WICB officials should have heeded the recommendation of his regional cricket subcommittee, and explored alternative sponsorship arrangements.

``In the interest of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and West Indies cricket ... nothing should be done to send the wrong message about the importance of cricket and the World Cup to the regional economy and the way of life of our people,'' Mitchell said on Sunday. — Agencies

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