Dear Editor,

It is indeed extremely embarrassing and a sad travesty that the once mighty West Indies — World Champions and the dominant force in international cricket for several decades — are now facing the reality of not qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.

This is not simply a failure of the players. It is a failure of leadership, governance, accountability and oversight.

The fundamental responsibility of a Board of Directors is to provide leadership, establish proper systems of accountability, monitor performance and take corrective action when those entrusted with running the organisation consistently fail to deliver.

So the question that must be asked is: who is providing that leadership at Cricket West Indies?

CWI has a Board of Directors, but the issue is whether the Board is actually exercising the level of oversight that the present crisis demands. The Board cannot simply appoint executives and coaches and then distance itself from the results. It must monitor their performance and hold them accountable.

This becomes particularly important when we examine the structure surrounding team selection.

The major cricketing nations — including Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — have established selection structures involving selectors, selection panels and cricket administrators, creating checks and balances around the selection of their national teams.

Australia has a National Selection Panel. India has a formal Selection Committee. Pakistan has National Selection Committees. New Zealand, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan similarly have established mechanisms through which national-team selection is subject to structured oversight.

The principle is simple: selection should not be left without proper checks and balances.

CWI’s own Selection Policy provides for a structured selection system involving an Executive Selector, selectors, the Head Coach, scouts and a Selection Analyst. The policy therefore recognises the importance of a proper selection structure.

The problem is whether that structure is providing the independent and effective oversight that West Indies Cricket desperately needs.

Daren Sammy is the Head Coach across the senior men’s formats, and CWI continues to place significant responsibility in his hands. CWI’s own announcements show Sammy directing the team’s preparation and describing every ODI series leading to the 2027 World Cup as a “must-win” situation. (Windies Cricket⁠)

But who is independently monitoring his performance?

Who is conducting a meaningful review of the team’s results?

Who is reviewing the selection decisions?

Who is determining whether the strategy is working?

And who is prepared to say that enough is enough when the results continue to fall below expectations?

This is where the Board of Directors must take responsibility.

The problem is not necessarily that a coach should have input into selection. Coaches obviously must have input. The problem arises when there is insufficient independent oversight of the coach’s performance and selection recommendations.

That is precisely why properly structured selection committees and strong cricket administration are so important.

The West Indies cannot afford a system where accountability becomes blurred and responsibility can be passed from the coach to the selectors, from the selectors to management, and from management back to the Board.

Ultimately, the Board is responsible.

The Board must also honour the commitments made in the CWI 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, particularly concerning transparency, accountability and organisational performance. CWI continues to promote that Strategic Plan as its framework for the future of West Indies Cricket.

Several respectful requests for reviews and clarification have been made, yet there appears to be little willingness to provide meaningful responses or public accountability.

That is deeply troubling.

The President, Dr. Kishore Nalin Shallow, carries enormous responsibility as President of Cricket West Indies, while also holding demanding public responsibilities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. His Vice President, Mr. Azim Bassarath, is also an experienced cricket administrator.

But regardless of who occupies these positions, the responsibility remains the same.

Leadership requires accountability.

The West Indies were once the standard by which international cricket was measured. Today, supporters are watching a proud cricketing institution struggle to regain its place among the world’s leading teams.

Thousands of passionate supporters have become disillusioned. Many have simply switched off. The enthusiasm, pride and confidence that once surrounded West Indies Cricket have been seriously diminished.

This did not happen overnight.

It is the result of years of questionable decisions, inadequate accountability, inconsistent selection, poor results and, most importantly, insufficient urgency from those entrusted with governing the game.

The Board cannot continue to point to individual players or isolated circumstances while ignoring its own responsibility.

A Board of Directors must lead, monitor, review and act.

If the present system is working, then the Board should demonstrate how it is working.

If it is not working, then the Board has an obligation to fix it.

West Indies Cricket does not need more excuses. It needs strong governance, independent oversight, transparent performance reviews, accountable selection processes and decisive leadership.

The people of the Caribbean and the millions of West Indies supporters around the world deserve nothing less.

And therefore, one fundamental question remains:

WHO ARE THE DIRECTORS OF CRICKET WEST INDIES ACCOUNTABLE TO?