Roberts suggests resignations for WICB president, CEO

Former West Indian great Andy Roberts on Tuesday drubbed the WICB as clueless and said that president Julian Hunte and chief executive Ernerst Hilaire should resign from their posts.

Also read: Get to know Andy Roberts

While saying that the existing system of functioning is damaging the sport in the Caribbean, Roberts also called for a complete overhaul of the cricket structure in the country, if they are to raise the standard in international cricket.

"The board does what it pleases them. They don't have a clue how to move West Indies cricket forward. They don't have a clue. Some of the board members should resign otherwise the same problems will keep appearing in the future also," Roberts said.

"Both should resign. Some of the top people in the board should resign. We need a different approach."

Asked about the West Indies board's decision to take cricket in the region in a new direction with an emphasis on playing younger players, Roberts said, "Fifteen years is a long time and we haven't seen much progress, but if we don't change the current approach, another 15 years will go down the drain."

"You can't just concentrate on few players playing in the Test team. I have been saying this from 1995. The problem is that the board seems to view few players as the problem in West Indies cricket. That is wrong. The entire cricket in our region is in a mess," he said.

According to Roberts, the real reason behind the on-going controversy between the board and some senior players, including Chris Gayle Shivnarine Chanderpaul, might never be known.

"We have three sides on this issue - your side, my side and the truth. I don't think we will ever know the truth. Both parties have been presenting different versions."

Roberts lamented that today's players spend too much time in the gym instead of the the nets.

"Attitude and work ethic has changed. Lots of players don't practice cricket much. Some spend more time in the gym than in the nets," Roberts was quoted as saying by cricinfo. He had some advice for the present day cricketers.

"Work on the attitude, skill, fitness, technique and work on them yourselves. Don't wait for the board to do it. Don't indulge in blame game. If the players can improve their skills to the highest level, and improve the attitude, West Indies cricket will improve. They have to change their attitude. That can only come from within."