April 10, 2003	Thursday	Safar 7, 1424

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GEORGETOWN, April 9: The decision of Carl Hooper to pull out of West Indies squad for first cricket Test against Australia has left a number of people unhappy — and none more so than chairman of West Indies selection committee, Sir Vivian Richards.

Sir Vivian wanted Hooper to be retained as West Indies captain, he delayed naming of West Indies squad for first Test against Australia for no other reason than to hear from deposed captain if he was interested in playing or not, and Richards must be hopping mad after telling him yes, he then said no.

Based on Hooper’s history, however, that kind of behaviour is nothing new and although, all things considered, Sir Vivian and his co-selectors should have told Hooper goodbye and thanks after he was removed as captain and deserve what has happened, they are not only ones who should now be unhappy.

Findlay and his colleagues were the ones who, despite his history, recommended Hooper as captain, and Board members of the time were the ones who accepted the recommendation.

In saying no to selectors, Hooper said, he made decision after “careful consideration”, that “it has been difficult decision but it is one I feel must be made”, and most importantly, “though tempting to play, it would curtail development of a younger player and I see it also as backward step for West Indies cricket”.

Just a few days before, however, after removed as captain and saying he was “relishing thought of facing challenge of touring Australians”, Hooper said “I must be unselfish though and ask myself if my presence in team will not be unfair, by blocking path of some younger and promising player”.

Based on his history, the latter seems to be case. Saying yes and then no is nothing new for Hooper. He has done so on number of occasions — including 1996 World Cup when he told selectors, yes, I will go, and then changed his mind a day or two before team left.

Ex-Windies great: Former Guyana and West Indies ace off-spinner Lance Gibbs is strongly opposed to a foreign coach supervising the regional cricket side.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced last week that Australian Bennett King would be appointed coach of the team, subject to completion of contractual negotiations; but Gibbs knocked the decision.

“We have had too many great cricketers to be bringing someone from outside. That’s my view,” Gibbs said in an interview in St Lucia where he was one of the patrons for the Double-Wicket Championship.

“But let’s wait and see what’s going to happen. I don’t know who is being appointed as the Australian man (King) is saying he is not the coach. I don’t know what isreally going on,” declared the 68-year-old Gibbs.—PPI