Holding hands in resignation

Michael Holding has resigned from the cricket committee of the West Indies Cricket board (WICB). The former West Indies fast bowler cites differences with the board, and claims the committee was not consulted over decisions pertaining to the West Indies tour of Pakistan, which takes place in November of this year.

The cricket committee was formed by the WICB to deal with and take responsibility for cricket-related matters.

Holding’s accusation follows the board’s reluctance to select the West Indies touring squad (of Pakistan) early, as per the request of Stanford 20/20 mastermind, Allen Stanford. Stanford requested that the squad be selected early to ensure that his coaching staff could properly prepare a combined West Indies XI for the Stanford 20/20 Super Stars match, which was originally scheduled to take place against South Africa on November 10.

The West Indies are due to arrive in Pakistan on November 7, and the clash of scheduling ensured the subsequent cancellation of the match.

Prior to the cancellation, the West Indies captain Brian Lara urged the selectors against picking the squad before the completion of this month’s tri-series in Malaysia. Lara reasoned that players should be made to earn their spots in the squad with their performances in the tri-series.

The board elected to comply with the request of Lara, but failed to consult the cricket committee, according to Holding. Holding expressed disenchantment at the lack of involvement of the committee in the matter. He further claims that two of the three selectors ? Andy Roberts and Clyde Butts ? were not informed of Lara’s objection.