Following on the large claims made by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control of a ``calculated plot'' to smear the image of the T&T captain Brian Lara, the president of the West Indies Cricket Board Pat Rousseau and the heads of three regional cricket Associations have denied any knowledge of a plot against the WI star batsman. For his part Rousseau said ``maybe the plot is a figment of the imagination.''
And attempting to explain why Lara has not yet been given the captaincy, the WICB chief suggested that time was on Lara's side. ``I don't know why everybody is going on as though this is a most unusual thing,'' he said, and suggested a look at the ages of previous WI captains when they were appointed.
``Somebody is playing mas with the cricket in Trinidad!'' quipped Leeward Islands Cricket Association president Clarvis Joseph when contacted by the Express yesterday about the TTCBC allegations.
But on a more serious note, the Leewards president quickly stated his position on the ``plot'' issue saying, ``The Leeward Islands have no knowledge of nor would the Leewards contribute to the smearing of the image of Brian Lara or any cricketer. I am not aware where this attempt is coming from.''
Joseph's sentiments were shared by Barbados Association president Tony Marshall.
And while not phrasing it in quite the same way, Windwards boss Lennox John was also sceptical about a WICB plot. ``From within the board no,'' John said. ``That (supposed smear campaign) seems to be coming out more from the area of the press.''
And John went further to comment that the mis-information which a TTCBC media release on Monday sought to document, ``does not do well for the young man. Things have been blown up. It would seem that a lot of pressure is being brought on him from all quarters.''
As far as Lequay's claims that the WICB was not united on the Lara issue, again there was no positive response. ``We run a democratic association,'' said Joseph. ``But there is also corporate responsibility. Like all decisions that are made in a democratic way, the majority prevailed. Whether I agree with a decision or not, I have a responsibility to stand by a decision.''
On the question of whether there was consultation on the decision not to officially appoint a vice-captain, both John and Marshall admitted that there had been no meeting or round-robin on the issue. ``I don't know that there is unity or disunity,'' Marshall said, `` the matter was just not discussed.''
John however did say that the lack of consultation was ``strange,'' but he also indicated that clarification on the matter had come yesterday in the form of a confidential note from the WICB.
And putting another spin on the vice-captaincy controversy, Joseph noted that no recommendation for the post had come from he selectors for the tour of Pakistan/Sharjah. ``As far as I know, there was no recommendation from the selectors,'' he said. ``I don't know what the Trinidad Cricket Board is talking about. This is not the first time the West Indies has toured without (an official) vice-captain,'' Joseph continued.
If the TTCBC was not seeing a recommendation, it was within their powers to raise the question. If they are so concerned about it, how come they never raised the issue?'' The vice-captaincy issue and the other ``plot'' issues are expected to be raised by the TTCBC at the WICB's next meeting from November 7-9. And while saying that the TTCBC was free to so as it wanted, Rousseau ended by saying, ``I just feel that it (the TTCBC's disaffection) should be discussed at the Board meeting.