Cricket West Indies today announced the appointment of former legendary West Indies opening batsman Dr. Desmond Haynes as the lead selector of the senior men’s team. Haynes replaced former West Indies off-spinner Roger Harper, whose contract CWI did not renew at the end of December.
CWI confirmed the Honorary Doctorate recipient of the University of the West Indies and former Senator in the Parliament of Barbados as the new Men’s Team Lead Selector during a meeting of the CWI Board of Directors on January 6.
Dr. Haynes will lead the West Indies Men’s Selection Panel until June 30, 2024, a period that includes four ICC Global Events, two T20 World Cups (2022 & 2024), the Cricket World Cup (2023), and the World Test Championship Final (2023).
CWI President Ricky Skerritt, said: “I am delighted to confirm that the Most Hon. Dr. Desmond Haynes has agreed to re-join the CWI cricket system as the Lead Selector. His cricket knowledge and experience are second to none, and I am confident that Desmond is the right man for the right job at the right time.”
Dr. Desmond Haynes stated: “I would like to thank President Skerritt and the CWI Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket once again. Being a Selector is a thankless task, but a critical role in our cricket system and I am honoured to be appointed. I have always indicated that I would assist West Indies cricket in anyway possible and I see this as an opportunity to do just that. I pledge to carry out my duties in a fair and professional manner.”
Outstanding Career
The prolific opening batsman played 116 Test matches and 238 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies between 1978 and 1994. He scored 7487 runs in Tests, including 18 centuries, and 8648 runs in ODIs, including 17 centuries. Dr. Haynes captained the West Indies in four Test matches and was a member of the West Indies team which won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1979. ICC inducted him into the Hall of Fame in June 2021.
Let me congratulate Desmond Haynes and also the CWI for appointing him as chief selector. I think it’s a step in the right direction for west indies cricket. Desmond Haynes brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with him and it augur well for the future of West indies cricket