Sports
‘BCCI wants Cameron voted out’
St. George’s (Grenada): Sports psychologist and former West Indies team manager Rudi Webster said he suspects that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has a $42-million claim against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), wants president Dave Cameron to be voted out.
Cameron is seeking re-election at the weekend meeting in Kingston but is being challenged by former fast bowler Joel Garner, reports CMC.
Webster believes that BCCI will insist on collecting the money for last year’s abandoned tour but that chance for a negotiated settlement would only come with a new president.
“I suspect if there was a change at the top, the BCCI would be tempted to say; look let us forget this thing or at least reduce it. Garner would have more influence with those people because a lot of them went to see him when they were little kids and they respect him more. With Cameron at the helm the BCCI might insist on getting their money,” said Webster.
In January, the BCCI issued an ultimatum to the WICB, asking the latter to furnish the requisite $41.97 million as damages borne out of West Indies’ “sudden, arbitrary withdrawal” from the India tour last October.
Webster said the name Cameron is now a bad name with Indian cricket.
“The Indians are going to insist on getting their money and I don’t think they are backing down from that. Cameron is not the most popular person in India. I don’t think he understood the culture of the Asian people,” said Webster.
“You don’t embarrass the Asians and make them lose face and expect them to support you and I would say he is probably the most unpopular West Indian in India at the moment although he thinks that he is one of the most popular.”
Last month Cameron was blasted for apparently retweeting a demand for outspoken opener Chris Gayle to be given “a retirement package”.
While the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) have backed the legendary former fast bowler Garner, the Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Guyana and Jamaica seem to be supporting Cameron’s re-election bid.
Webster said however, it appears on the surface, Cameron might have the votes to be re-elected as WICB president.
“These secret ballots are a funny thing and Cameron did a stupid thing when he tweeted that thing about Chris Gayle. Normally Jamaicans don’t go against other Jamaicans but if you criticise Chris Gayle or Usain Bolt you are asking for trouble. So although the board has been told to vote for him, it’s a secret ballot and we don’t know what is going to happen,” Webster added.
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.