BRIDGETOWN, April 27: Vivian Richards has said Ramnaresh Sarwan should succeed Brian Lara as captain of the West Indies.

Lara's international retirement after a disappointing World Cup campaign, that saw the hosts fail to make the semi-finals, has left the selectors with a vacancy to fill ahead of the tour of England and a decision on the new captain is due to be announced on Sunday.

Former West Indies captain Richards said it was right that current vice-captain Sarwan should succeed to the top job.

He backed his claims over those of Daren Ganga, the other leading candidate, on the grounds that Sarwan was a regular member of the team.

Intriguingly Richards, who was chief selector until June 2004, said his time in charge had seen Sarwan considered for the captaincy only for an incident, which he refused to reveal, to have deprived him of the leadership.

“When I was chairman of the selection panel, we did nominate Sarwan. But something took place then, I don't wish to say what,” said Richards.

However, Richards was enthusiastic regarding the captaincy capabilities of the now 26-year-old Sarwan.

“I felt he had it. Captains demand respect. All the other players felt comfortable around him,” he explained.

Opening batsman Ganga, the captain of Trinidad and Tobago, missed out on selection for the World Cup and Richards clearly felt that counted against his chances of captaining the team, even though the 28-year-old has played 41 Tests and 35 one-dayers.“Another guy who is quite capable, and whose seriousness of approach has impressed me is Daren. I felt the two individuals would complement each other.

But I hope it's not other way around, Ganga and Sarwan.

“Why should we have to jump over Sarwan's head to get someone else? It's right the individual who has been in place for quite some time gets it.”—AFP