Former West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago wicketkeeper David Williams has been replaced by Toby Radford as the West Indies senior team assistant coach.
This was one of the major decisions taken during a two-day meeting of the Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board in St Lucia last weekend.
The decisions taken at the meeting were summarised in a media release on Thursday and the one pertaining to the assistant coaching position stated: “The Board approved that Mr Toby Radford, former head coach of the Sagicor High Performance Centre, be assigned as the West Indies senior team assistant coach on a tour by tour basis.”
No reference was made to the previous assistant coach, Williams, who served in the post for the last four and a half years and who was also held the post on a tour by tour basis.
Trinidad and Tobago director on the WICB Baldath Mahabir confirmed that Williams was replaced but could not say if the former wicket-keeper would have a future role in the coaching staff of the regional team.
Contacted by the Express yesterday, Williams said he got the news about the decision but has not received any official communication from the WICB and said he was waiting to get something official from the Board before making any further comments.
“I am disappointed, but these things happen in life and you have to pick up the slack and move on,” Williams said.
He said that what was even more disappointing was the way the news came to him and how late the call came about his removal.
“Just a couple of days ago they called me about the position. (They said) they wanted a coach to work with the younger batters,” Williams explained.
Williams said he was happy to be part of the regional set-up for the last four-and-a-half years and feels he still has a lot to offer.
He said: “I enjoyed my time (with the West Indies team). It was really a great experience and I want to thank the West Indies Cricket Board for that experience.
“It is not the end of the road. I hope the West Indies Cricket Board knows that I still have a lot to offer West Indies cricket,” he added.
Other decisions taken at the WICB Board meeting included the introduction of “performance points” in all regional tournaments and the establishment of a three-man committee to assess the playing conditions of all regional tournaments.
The Board also directed that all players at the Sagicor High Performance Centre pursue Level 1 coaching certification which will, in the long term, broaden the pool of proficient and effective coaches in the region.
It was decided that West Indies senior team head coach Ottis Gibson, in collaboration with “master trainers,” be assigned to conduct evaluation of coaches to ensure, among other things, they are improving the technical skills of players and executing their roles in a way which is consistent with the WICB’s coaching standards.
The Board also approved the introduction of a “grading system” for pitches.
The release also confirmed that India “A” are scheduled to tour the Caribbean later this year and will play two unofficial Tests, two Twenty20s and three 50 over matches against the West Indies “A” team.
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