THE REVEREND Wes Hall of Barbados and Mr. Val Banks of Anguilla were today formally elected as the President and Vice-President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) respectively.
The two men – the lone nominees for either post – were elected at a Meeting of Members of the WICB this morning at the Savannah Hotel in Barbados.
Hall, a former West Indies fast bowling great of the 1960s, comes to office with a wealth of experience in West Indies and international cricket, having previously served as Chairman of Selectors, West Indies team manager and West Indies Youth team manager.
A former Minister of Sports in his native Barbados, Hall has worked as a professional cricketer and cricket coach in England, Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Wales and throughout the Caribbean. The 63-year-old, who also has wide business experience particularly in public relations and human resource management, is currently Director of Corporate Relations, Sandals Resorts International.
Banks, at 51, has risen to the second-highest post in West Indies cricket, having served in various administrative capacities in regional cricket. He has been one of the Leeward Islands’ two Directors on the WICB since 1997 and is also currently the President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association.
The career banker (Director of the National Bank of Anguilla Ltd.) has also been Chairman of the Leeward Islands Cricket Selectors and Manager of the Leeward Islands senior cricket team (Red Stripe Cup). During the 1970s and 1980s he captained Anguilla’s national cricket team.
The two were elected to replace former President Pat Rousseau of Jamaica and his Vice-President Clarvis Joseph of the Leeward Islands (Antigua) who resigned their posts in early June. Hall and Banks will serve a two-year term.
In his acceptance speech, Hall pledged ‘unswerving commitment to the task and challenges that lie ahead’.
He said West Indies cricket should be upheld to the ‘microscopic scrutiny and criticism to which West Indian people have always subjected the business of their cricket’ and added that this will be his administration’s ‘ultimate judgement’.
Outlining several objectives and strategies which he deemed integral to the development of regional cricket, the new president said it was important ‘to restore a cricket-friendly climate, involving all stakeholders, especially ex-players’. However, at the heart of his speech was the view that those involved in the operations of West Indies cricket must always be accountable to West Indian people.
‘Cricket starts with our people and it should end with our people,’ said Hall.
For more details contact:
West Indies Cricket Board
Jacqui Joseph
Tel: +1 268 481 2463
Fax: +1 268 481 2498
E mail: jjoseph@windiescricket.com