Windies board disappointing even in team’s transitional stage: Viv Richards

Former West Indies captain Vivian Richards has said that the Caribbean islands are taking longer than normal to get back to the halcyon days.

Blaming the West Indies cricket board for the present malaise, Richards said: “There have been some good signs coming out of the team of late, but really, we need to improve more. We are in a transitional stage.”

Interacting with former Australian cricketer Dean Jones, Richards was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald, as saying that he was “really disappointed in the West Indies Cricket Board itself.”

He also said that West Indian board was poorly treating out of favour opener Chris Gayle and added that he should be playing Test cricket.

“We have a board that is totally dictatorial and they won't budge on their thoughts with Chris. The WICB had also asked for a commission to undertake a wide look at the governance of cricket in the West Indies. Now some findings have come back to them and the WICB were not too happy in its findings,” Richards said.

“Chris Gayle has a case and the board should find a resolution in the matter ASAP as it is really sad how they have treated him,” he added.

“The board has not released the findings of the commission and haven't been upfront with everyone. They have put up a smoke screen and they have been far too dictatorial and someone has to take them on and Chris Gayle is doing that. I wish him luck and I am totally supporting Chris and we need to take these guys on … The WICB have been very naughty,” Richards added.