2 weeks ago
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Cricket Hall of Fame, Micheal Chambers, strongly believes that the only person with the capacity to revive Jamaica and West Indies cricket is former Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron.
Speaking at a function to recognise former Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, who was inducted recently into the Cricket Hall of Fame, Chambers declared: “The only person who can resurrect Jamaica’s cricket, West Indies cricket, and I am going to get in trouble when I say this, is Dave Cameron.”
In 2020, Cameron threw his name in the hat for the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman but received no support from CWI or his national association, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA).
However, Chambers believes that Cameron is still the best man for the job, both locally and regionally, and calls on the JCA and the CWI to mend fences with the former CWI boss and seek a way forward.
“For whatever reason, Jamaica did not support him when he was running (for ICC chairman), and he lost, but the ICC was willing to entertain him as chairman, but Jamaica’s board said they would not support him as chair for ICC.
“But today, I am still telling persons that pound for pound, there is no person in the Caribbean who has his qualifications who will be able to bring back cricket in the West Indies the way it should be. I think it is only Dave Cameron who can do that,” he continued.
RETURN TO CRICKET
Nevertheless, he thinks the former administrator, who is now a sport consultant, is patiently biding his time before making his return to cricket administration.
“I think he is waiting on persons who are upset at him for whatever reason,to bury the hatchet. But they need to approach him to get the job done. It is important.
“He has international support. He has the US, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, all key countries that are thinking about backing him.
“But if his own country won’t support him, that makes it difficult. So that is what we are waiting to see now if Jamaica’s cricket board will make an effort to sit (and talk) with him.”
Cameron served as CWI president from 2013-2019. He was instrumental in professionalising cricket in the region and reducing the vast difference in compensation between internationals and players of the region during his time in office, and Chambers said achievements like those point to the reason Cameron is still needed.
“He realised that without proper funding, players would not be able to succeed. So he brought professional cricket to the West Indies,” said Chambers.
He also believes that the mind power training (online course and book), which his organisation, Cricket Hall of Fame, has developed, can play a big role in the resurrection of regional cricket.
He noted that Cameron knows the importance of mind power training to this generation of West Indian cricketers.
“What Dave wants for cricket is what I think should be done. I started working closely with him, and I realised what he was saying was, ‘our players are talented but they lack something’.
“So I had a good chat with my daughter, who does special education teaching. She explained that there were three important elements (in mind power training): mindfulness, visualisation, and emotional intelligence.
“So I wrote a book and gave it to Dave Cameron, and he started trying to implement mind power training in the West Indies culture.
“So I still support Dave, and I am still hoping that Cricket West Indies will see the value of working with Mr Cameron.”
English (US) ·