“Darren Ganga – Ready for anything in West Indies cricket”

Oct 17, 2010 Sports

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Colin E. H. Croft
Darren Ganga, Trinidad & Tobago’s cricket captain, prepares himself for anything, as his team defends the 50-over championship won in 2008 and 2009.
Colin Croft (CC):  Everyone should be looking for West Indies selection, with the start of the long 2010-2011 season.
Darren Ganga (DG):  It is a packed year; important for players to know what is ahead.  T&T has been working really hard in preparation.   We are eager to play this 50-over competition, as defending champions.  There are expectations.
We flattered to deceive in the WI T-20, failing to qualify for Champions League 2010.  We have making up to do.   We will not put ourselves under pressure.  We want to play the best cricket that we can produce.
It is easy to recognize the problems our cricket has faced, with players turning down WICB contracts; having opportunities to play elsewhere.  Most cricket played recently has been outside of West Indies.  The players must recognize these opportunities.
There is a void of leadership.  The powers-that-be will be observing, so it will be good to have solid performances; to have that honour of leading our team to another victory.
CC:  Gayle, Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, refused WICB contracts.  Interesting?
DG:  Very important!  If I had aspirations to captain West Indies, there would be sacrifices that I would have to make.  If anyone is to become the WI captain that we need, there must be dedication towards Caribbean cricket.
Being a successful WI team, with a good leader, will not happen overnight.  Much ground-work must be done, with much dialogue between the assigned captain and WICB, with a vision to go forward.  Any sensible person who wants to captain WI would want to probably commit himself to having a WICB contract.
From outside, it looks as if these guys are not interested in that responsibility.  It is up to WICB to identify the best candidates to lead West Indies, and to invest in those persons, with proper dialogue, making sure that the correct decisions, with objectives, are made.
CC:  Players seem reluctant to play for West Indies.  Mike Hussey and Rahul Dravid played for Australia and India last week, immediately after playing for Champion League teams.  What about us?
DG:  Michael Clarke and Stuart Broad have even turned down IPL, to prepare and play for their countries.  It is difficult to differentiate players these days.
Cricket has evolved.  We cannot be judgmental on players making decisions on contracts and looking for opportunities outside.  These are things, realities of world cricket, that WICB and supporters have to embrace.
Even though Gayle, Pollard and Bravo turned down WICB contracts, it is difficult to blaspheme and castigate them.  There need to be respect and dialogue, on both sides, to understand what WICB needs; what players need; trying to have harmonious relationships, moving forward.
One must know what are important; marketing, revenue generation, quality cricket.  Our top cricketers are not enthused to be attached to; employed by; WICB.  WICB should now be very introspective.  It should know where WI cricket is headed.
That Ramnaresh Sarwan was not offered a retainer contract is baffling.  To negate a guy who has done so well; senior and experienced; for fitness reasons, is unfortunate.
There seems to be no clear vision from WICB to take our cricket forward.  From my playing perspective, it seems that WICB does not know how to take us forward.
Much has contributed to WI cricket being poorly represented.  Our cricket is not structured from basics.  Every territory has its own structure.  WICB must know its limitations.  They do not have finances to do competitions and developments. WICB must recognize that it is not the only entity that could take us out of our situation.
For too long, Caribbean governments have been excluded from our cricket.  From our perspective, if T&T’s government is funding its cricket board, University of T&T and development programmes, Toruba Stadium, with much money involved, then the government must have leverage in T&T’s cricket; by extension; Caribbean cricket.
Minimum standards for performance and funding must be set.  If all Caribbean governments give commitments for development, then WICB could influence them to set acceptable standards, blue-prints for improvement.
The onus is not on WICB to fund these development programs in the Caribbean.  WICB contributes minimally, financially, towards development in respective countries.
WICB should leave the cricket development to the governmental agencies of each country, while WICB focuses on running the regional competitions, networking with world-wide connections, providing the territories with appropriate personnel for development, selecting elite regional cricketers who develop from these.
WICB wants to emphasize on setting up satellite programmes and academies, but those would exist under the ambits of respective countries.  If WICB struggles perennially to run programs, then, why not partner with governments to effect a better organization, and progress, of our cricket?
CC:  Dwayne Bravo suggested it, but, as a player, with over 10 years experience, how do you understand respect for players from WICB?
DG:  It creates animosity when such suggestions are made.  Players do not say those things to point fingers.  Players feel alienated, not part of what is happening in our cricket, and are very frustrated.  They play, and see areas where improvements can be effected, where investments can be made, to impact directly on our cricket’s quality.
We have heard former players say; ‘West Indies won not because of the WICB, but despite it.’  In international sports, performances, from management, and players, count.
The cricket world has changed much, in management, from the 70’s and 80’s.  We must embrace those changes.  Our cricket was amateur back then, and it is still amateur now.
We must have 1st class systems and investments, from grass-roots to elite, for excellence, and recognize what other top world teams are doing; investing in technology, research and preparations to have cutting edge performances.  We still leave much to chance.  We still expect another special talent to just emerge from nowhere.
Cricket is a business, similar to educating one’s child, from kinder-garden to professional.  Systems must be put in place for development, so that, after suitable periods, players should be at certain levels, based on the efficiency of programmes.
Now, in the Caribbean, there is no programme that has been scientifically tested to give such results.  We have not yet started our cricket turn-around, to move in the right direction.
We cannot stop WI cricket, and then start the turn-around.  At some point, we must effect those changes for our cricket to progress.  We need standard structures throughout.
Personally, this last year has been indifferent, not that good.  I was voted ‘Regional One-Day Player of (last) Year’, yet I did not play in a single ODI.  That is truly ironic and very puzzling.  I am puzzled with being absent from any involvement in WI cricket.
Devon Smith was selected to lead an “A” team tour, on what premise, I do not know, but he did a good job.  The selectors must understand that I am still very interested in, and working hard for, West Indies cricket.
From T&T’s perspective, this 50-over tournament in Jamaica will reinforce our team’s winning attitude; also, that I am still competing for a place in international teams too.

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