Seven candidates have been short-listed for the West Indies head coach position which has been vacant since last August after the dismissal of Ottis Gibson.
A West Indies Cricket Board press release yesterday aid preliminary interviews are being conducted and the intention is to have the position filled after the ICC Cricket World Cup next month in Australia and New Zealand. Until such time Stuart Williams will continue to function as coaching coordinator with the West Indies team. The announcement follows a meeting of the Board of the Directors on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, the release said the Directors adopted the recommendations of the Michael Gordon QC-chaired Task Force which examined matters leading to the premature end of the tour of India. As a result, the WICB said it will plan a team building activity in the first week of April, prior to the start of the England tour of the Caribbean. This activity will be geared towards building greater understanding and trust among the players, the Board of Directors and the WICB management.
The Board has also agreed that the team manager would be the designated head of the West Indies team delegation and would report to the Chief Executive Officer. The head coach is responsible for team performance.
According to the release, the players will be issued with match/tour contracts at least three weeks prior to departure for/start of a series; the WICB will pursue engaging the services of a sports psychologist for the senior team; pursue engaging the services of a mental skills coach at the developmental levels and develop a players handbook which will be issued to all players. The handbook will outline responsibilities, expectations, protocols, standards and matters of general conduct.