The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will soon be renamed “Cricket West Indies” as the organization looks to restructure its operations and create a distinct commercial arm.
This was revealed by WICB President Dave Cameron, who said this was one of the key strategic changes being undertaken by the WICB as it sought to improve its administration of the game.
Cameron was at the time speaking in the Cayman Islands last week end at the Cayman Cricket’s Annual Award Dinner in Georgetown.
“We have resolved to change the name of the WICB and we will be called Cricket West Indies,” he said.
“And why Cricket West Indies? Simply, because everybody seems to believe that the board of directors — the West Indies Cricket Board — is cricket.
“Cricket is all of us. It’s in all our communities, in Jamaica, Barbados and in Cayman Islands and the entire region” he said, adding, “we have also created a distinct commercial entity… we will roll that out in the next couple of months and that is to ensure that we have our brand identity and commercial platform, very distinct from our governance platform. So the governance will be Cricket West Indies and we will have a commercial platform.”
Meanwhile, the WICB has named an un-changed 15-member Test squad for the tour of Australia starting next month.
The only major change is on the management of the team coach Phil Simmons who has been re-instated after a recent suspension.
Simmons will replace Eldine Baptiste, a former West Indies cricketer and selector who has been acting in the position.
The Selection Panel announced the squad which suffered a two-match Test and ODI series loss against Sri Lanka last month.
The unchanged squad includes all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, the only uncapped player as well as two promising cricketers who made their Test debut in contrasting styles.
Earlier this year, Rajendra Chandrika, 26, made his debut against Australia in Kingston, Jamaica, where he became the 40th batsman to start his Test career with two ducks, while spinner Jomel Warrican, 20, claimed four wickets for 67 runs to help bowl out Sri Lanka for 200 runs in the second Test.
West Indies, which will be captained by Jason Holder, will play three Test matches against Australia, starting Dec. l0 in Hobart.
The second Test will begin on Dec. 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground with the third and final Test on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The squad left the Caribbean on Nov. 23.
