Lara re-affirms will to help Windies cricket

Lara re-affirms will to help Windies cricket

Sean Nero
Published: Guardian
Monday, July 27, 2015
Former West Indies captain Brian Lara says officials of the West Indies Cricket Board cannot restore the sport to its former glory on their own.

He has therefore declared his intent to make overtures to assist administrators in the resurgence of the game.

Lara reaffirmed his willingness to help rebuild WI cricket and told the T&T Guardian he would do everything possible to help nurture young talent in T&T and across the region, because the future of the sport demanded it.

Lara had the support of sports minister Brent Sancho.

While issues related to cricket were not dealt with by individual ministers of sport across the region, but at the level of Caricom, said Sancho, he firmly believed the return of Lara was one way to boast the quality of performances and the consequent championship titles the people of the Caribbean expected.

Lara said the WICB was trying but what you see in terms of performances by the players, is not necessarily the true reflection of  the sport here.    Administratively, they need help. Again, I am willing to help but the relationship has to be built, for me to have trust in the people I am working with.   

When questioned about the positive impact the Hero Caribbean Premier League had on the coffers of the WICB, Lara stated:    Financially it must have benefitted the WICB. In terms of the shorter version of the game, West Indies have proven they can play with the best teams in the world.  Unfortunately, we did not have our best team in the recent ICC World Cup in Australia, but I think as a purist, it’s really down to the test version of the game. I don’t know how much CPL could do for that. As I’ve said, the best cricketers I have seen in the past are able to play all forms of the game, Lara said.

He added,    The youngsters want to play for an Indian Premier League (IPL) team or a CPL team, but they should also want to play for West Indies. Putting on that white clothes and the burgundy cap still should be the most important thing for any young cricketer. I’m sure the CPL understands that. The fact that they are playing cricket and are bringing the crowds out should create  interest among the youngsters.

Well I don't know what much can be done by Lara at this stage to help. I think he should just run for WICB president next election.

As the smallest and poorest cricketing nation, it was cricket that brought the world’s attention to the genius of these small post-plantation islands and mainland enclaves. When a Garry Sobers or Rohan Kanhai or Viv Richards or Clive Lloyd and Malcolm Marshall walked on to the cricket field they took with them all of the complex history of their people and transformed it into artistry and imagination

Lara is just a name what can he really do