Why The Whole Show ??

The crisis in West Indian cricket is as funny as it is sad. It is sad to see that a team which has given us so much joy over the years is imploding and the last of its potential saviours are been shown the door over sponsorship issues. Funny, because all the parties seem to think that they can get along without the other. How long can this show go on ?? It is evident that the Board will not function in the long run unless it has the best available players playing and these players on the other hand cannot possibly benefit from not participating in international games.

Brian Lara has already said on Wisden Cricinfo today that the current situation is a lose-lose one and only through talks and compromises can it be turned into a win-win. He clearly emphasised that the possibility of a win-lose solution did not exist. If he has realised this, why is the Board not taking the cue ??

Every time in the recent past that such a situation has occured a last minute compromise has been reached. (Which reminds me an excellent article by Harsha Bhogle on Cricinfo on "The Last Minute" - long time since I read a Harsha article) Take for example, the Indian contracts controversy in 2002 and the West Indian controversy last year. Why do people insist on repeating the wrong procedures followed in the past ? Why fight it out and put up a show if you know that you have to come to the discussion table in the end ??

Lara, Sarwan and Gayle between them aggregate over 16000 Test runs and 38 centuries. West Indies cannot pretend that they can do away with these resources. If they try to, there is going to be one more team that needs to be shown the door along with Zimbabwe.